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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.] 









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*\Y0ND.ER3 OF THE^JLOR/. 



T IX B 



Preservation of Flowers 

In their Natural State and Colors. 



ALSO CONTAINING A TREATISE ON 



Ornamental Grasses! Mosses, 

Their Uses, and How to Color Them, dfc. 



BY/ 

H. ACOSTA KRESKEN, 

Practical Florist. 






ILLUSTRATED. 



Dayton, Ohio: 
PHILIP A. KEMPER, Publisher. 

1879. 






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■r I I I 1 I l-H-H-m I I I I I I 1 I I I I I I I I II I I H 



t This book will be sent, postpaid, 
t on receipt of $1.50 Address, 

PHILIP A. KEMPER. 
J Dayton, Ohio. 

t 



- M I I I I i I I I I I i I I I I I I I I I I I I 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1879, 

By PHILIP A. KEMPER, 

In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. 



Printed, Stereotyped, and Bound at 

United Brethren Printing Establishment, 

Dayton, Ohio. 






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Efejnlk 







CHAPTER I. pagh. 

The art of drying flowers by sulphur vapor 11 

CHAPTER II. 
To dry flowers in sand '24 

CHAPTER III. 
The drying of flowers by curing with acids 35 

CHAPTER IV. 
Special treatment for certain flowers 38 

CHAPTER V. 

To preserve or embalm flowers with wax, par- 
afnne, or spermaceti 42 

CHAPTER VI. 
To preserve autumn leaves, green leaves, ferns, etc. 48 

CHAPTER VII. 

Skeleton leaves 51 

CHAPTER VIII. 
The coloring of everlasting flowers and grasses... 58 

CHAPTER IX. 
Ornamental grasses 07 

CHAPTER X. 

To bronze and crystallize grasses 73 

CHAPTER XI. 
French immortelles 76 

CHAPTER XII. 
Everlasting or straw flowers 82 

CHAPTER XIII. 
Moss — Its various uses and how to dye it 86 



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■^jjpn^l 



If iv CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER XIV. Page. 

How to make preserved and artificial flowers 
fragrant 92 

CHAPTER XV. 

How to make bouquets, wreaths, &c., tastefully.. 95 

CHAPTER XVI. 

Coral flower-baskets, stands, etc 103 

CHAPTER XVII. 

Rose of Jericho beads 107 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

The herbarium — Directions for finding, prepar- 
ing, and keeping of specimens. 113 

CHAPTER XIX. 

Spatter or spray work 122 

CHAPTER XX. 
How to make beautiful pictures of preserved 
flowers, ornamental ferns, and mosses 127 

CHAPTER XXI. 
To collect and preserve butterflies, etc 135 

CHAPTER XXII. 
The dressing of butterflies and other insects 145 

CHAPTER XXIII. 
The art of making wax-flowers 150 

CHAPTER XXIV. 
Fruit-modeling in wax 176 

CHAPTER XXV. 
Paper flowers 183 



Publisher's remarks 195 

The materials, colors, papers, etc., necessary to 
carry out the objects of this volume 205 

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■ HE eagerness for new and won- 
derful developments, which in 
the present age seems ever on the 
increase, and leads men to new re- 
searches into the realms of science 
and art, includes within its scope all 
nature, of which, it will be freely admitted, the 
floral kingdom forms a very important part. 
The endless variety and beauty of floriculture 
offers to the student of nature unequaled at- 
tractions not only to discover and develop new 
marvels of beauty that lay hidden in this fine 
study, but also to find the means by which 
countless numbers, already known, may be 
preserved for a longer than the short space 
of time allotted to them by the laws of nature 



WFV 



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Ijkaflk. jAuj^I 

H VI PREFACE. 



in which to delight our vision and add some- 
thing to our earthly enjoyments. A higher 
Dispensation has decreed the dependence of 
man upon organic nature for many of his com- 
forts and pleasures. "I his is nowhere so ap- 
parent as with the gifts of Flora. From time 
immemorial flowers were used as representa- 
tions of the tender and the lovely. 

Their allegorical appliance was in all parts 
of the world inherent to poetry, and emblem- 
atic of all that is great and good. There is 
in fact but little poetry without flowers. All 
art, all ingenuity of human invention, has 
always failed, and will forever fail to make or 
compose an ornament that could equal the 
simple rose, the modest violet, or the chaste 
lily. Did not the Savior himself pay a glow- 
ing tribute to the latter in the parable of the 
lilies? According to his words, there was 
nothing among all the wealth that even a 
Solomon possessed which could be compared 
to the beauty of the lily. Yes, verily, the 



IffioiJlk. tJIW- -.ntlfrg' 

PREFACE. V n 

most lavish use of gold and diamonds will 
rarely form anything but an imperfect orna- 
ment, if not supported or enriched by the 
inherent beauty of leaves, buds, and blossoms. 
The flower is the messenger of love and friend- 
ship. It serves as a token of esteem, as a 
prize for gallantry or virtue. More than this, 
it is the last gift of bereaved friends which 
follows the departed to their final narrow rest- 
ing-place. Even a coffin is seldom seen with- 
out flowers; and the melancholy aspects of a 
funeral are mitigated to no small degree by 
the tender and sweet influences of flowers. 
It is a mysterious consolation to know that 
our dear deceased are surrounded by fragrant 
flowers, and that their place of silent rest is 
encircled with lofty trees and blooming shrubs. 
That a little bouquet, a single flower left 
from such an occasion, should gain a thousand- 
fold value from the memories attached to it, 
and its preservation become an object of great 
solicitude, is certainly not to be wondered at. 

3 c 

fr rj i,F V*m 



viii PREFACE. p 

Yet despite all the eulogiums that can be be- 
stowed on flowers, they do not last. They are 
short lived ; and their mere temporary exist- 
ence depends upon season, temperature, and 
weather. By the laws of nature these dear 
tokens of affection are, with few exceptions, 
doomed to well-nigh immediate decay, unless 
means can be devised by which this natural 
tendency to decay can be arrested. 

To discover the best and most practical 
methods by which this so desirable object 
could be attained has been my study for years, 
and it affords me great pleasure to be able 
to state that my efforts have been crowned 
with very satisfactory results. 

As early as the year 1865, — fourteen years 
ago, — when scarcely anything was yet pub- 
licly known of this art, I received the grand 
prize-medal for my display of preserved 
flowers at the intei national horticultural ex- 
hibition at Cologne on the Rhine. Since 

then, I have received no less than eighteen 
« 

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medals of high grade at the different worlds' 
expositions, as also a number of valuable 
and rarely-bestowed decorations from the 
reigning potentates of Europe, and many 
honorary diplomas in the United States and 
other countries for my exhibitions of pre- 
served flowers. Firmly believing that a 
treatise on so interesting a subject, of which 
so little is generally known as yet, would 
be hailed with pleasure by a great many 
lovers of flowers, I have now laid down 
in this volume my long and extensive ex- 
perience with the subject in question. 

The reader will find in the book before him 
several methods, clearly and concisely given, 
by which the rose, the violet, the pansy, the 
forget-me-not, and hundreds of other beau- 
tiful flowers, may be kept in nearly their orig- 
inal beauty for many years. 

I have also added several important chapters 
on the gathering, coloring, and arranging of 
numerous varieties of ornamental grasses, 

Dfv ' — ■ ^""il 



ifcjlk ■ jtikJgt 

x PREFACE. 

i 

mosses, and leaves for home ornament or dec- 
orative purposes on public occasions, besides 
a number of chapters on subjects pertaining 
more or less to the title of this book. 

With these prefatory remarks, I commend 
this book to the favorable notice of the public, 
feeling confident that it will contribute some- 
thing toward an agreeable and profitable occu- 
pation of the time of its readers, and awaken, 
by the knowledge of how to preserve many 
of them, a still deeper interest in the beautiful 
gifts of the Flora. 

H. ACOSTA KRESKEN. 

Cincinnati, Ohio, May, 1879. 



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THE ART OF DRYING FLOWERS BY APPLICA- 
&l ®JxP TION OF SULPHUR VAPOR. 

'NO WING the curious and 



J^Jfi^ sometimes destructive effect 
that sulphur has when brought in 
contact with different objects, some 
of my kind readers will no doubt 
be surprised to find it placed at the 
very head of this book as the saving, 
the conserving element of many of 
the delicate and beautiful gifts of flora. 
Yet, strange as it may appear to 
many, it is none the less true, and 
without entering upon any scientific 
theory of the subject, I merely state 

y 



ilfctjflSk. 3&k z&M 

n 

12 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

the fact, leaving the verification of it 
to experiments by the reader. 

To cure or dry flowers by sulphur 
vapor, the first thing requisite is a 
wooden box of a size to suit the quan- 
tity of flowers on hand. For general 
use I would recommend the following 
size: Height and width two feet, 
length three feet. The box should 
have a sliding lid, or rather, front, 
and be as near as possible air-tight. 
All cracks must be closed by filling 
them up with putty or soft clay. Place 
the box so that the lid be on the 
front side and that it may be opened 
by drawing the lid upward. Inside, 
on both of the short sides of the box, 
there should be two laths one inch 
in thickness and six inches apart. On 



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THE SULPHUR-BOX 

When ready to be closed. 



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pur Jiilk. 3 uftiuiiltg 

14 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 



these laths the sticks of corresponding 
length are laid to hold the flowers. 
The latter should be put up in small 
bunches. Of the smaller flowers quite 
a number may be bunched together, 
but of the larger, like peonies, roses, 
and asters, not more than three. Or- 
dinary coarse thread may be used for 
binding ; common wire will blacken 
and spoil the flowers. Two bunches 
are joined by a short thread, and then 
hung over the sticks with the flowers 
downward and sufficiently far apart 
to avoid pressing. When the box is 
filled with flowers, place a little tin 
or earthen vessel on the bottom, 
about six inches from the flowers 
above it, containing about four ounces 
of common sulphur or brimstone, and u 



iloiffk. ' ' w 

WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 15 



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3 

ft™ 1 ! 



enough sulphur-fuse to make it burn 
well; then ignite it and close the box. 
To prevent the extinguishing of the 
sulphur and to furnish a draft of air, 
there should be two holes one inch in 
diameter in the box, one in the lower 
part of the lid or front side, and an- 
other in a straight line with this in 
the upper board, to insure the desired 
draft. After the brimstone has been 
burning freely about ten minutes, and 
the box has been well filled with 
vapor, cork up the draft-holes and 
close all the cracks through which 
the vapor escapes, with putty, and 
keep the box hermetically closed 
at least twenty-four hours. When 
the box is opened the flowers will 
appear white ; those which retain much 

; ■ — -W'^M. 



3 2 

16 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 



of their natural color are not fully 
cured, and are unfit for preservation. 
After having been taken out of the 
box, suspend them in some shady 
room and expose them to a continu- 
ous draft of air, but at the same time 
be prepared to close the room and 
protect the flowers from dampness, if 
rainy weather sets in, in order to pre- 
vent them from molding. As the 
drying process progresses the flowers 
will gradually regain their natural 
color. They may then be put up in 
little paper or wooden boxes until 
used. 

In the above described manner a 
large quantity of flowers and of nu- 
merous varieties may be dried without 
great trouble and in a comparative- 



ly 



p|»nngr ■ ^jF^I 



3 S 

WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 17 

ly short time, but it is essential that 
the sulphur-box be not opened too 
soon. A few hours longer makes 
little difference, but one hour too 
soon may spoil them. These flow- 
ers may be used for various orna- 
mental purposes, and their curing 
and arranging may be converted into 
a profitable business, if pleasure or 
the love of art be not the only motive 
for the experiment. 

Before specifying the varieties of 
flowers best adapted to this manner 
of curing, I wish to direct the atten- 
tion of the reader to a certain treat- 
ment of preserved flowers which is al- 
most indispensable to their usefulness 
for decorative purposes. Flowers 
cured by sulphur vapor should, before 

2 



PlUlflfc. Jfll 

18 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

working them up for ornamental pur- 
poses, be placed in a cellar, or in any 
other damp place, and be left there- 
in about twenty-four hours or until 
they become flexible. Their straw- 
like appearance will then be changed; 
their color will become natural and 
more vivid. Certain varieties, for in- 
stance asters, will begin to look as 
fresh as if they were recently cut. 

All dried flowers of red colors, in- 
cluding pink and crimson, will be 
greatly improved by being submitted 
to the following manipulation : Mix 
one part of chemically pure nitric acid 
with eleven parts of cistern or river 
water; put the mixture in a glass or 
earthen vessel ; dip the dried flowers 
in only for a moment, then let the 



W ' J "I5 



puiifllfc. : A 

n y 

WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 19 

liquid drop off, and suspend the flow- 
ers in a shady and airy place to dry. 
Flowers treated in this manner will 
often acquire brilliant colors. There 
is hardly any other way to give dried 
roses an appearance of freshness. 
They must, however, not be dried 
before the open fire or by stove-heat. 

Fuchsias must not be fully develop- 
ed if to be cured to advantage. Buds 
of all varieties may be preserved so 
as nearly to equal the fresh ones. 
When they are to be used, it is only 
necessary to moisten them slightly, 
when they may be easily opened with 
the fingers, and the stamens arranged 
to suit taste and purpose. 

The Xeranthemum annuum floi'a 

pleno a/do, the double white Xeranthe- 

s 

■or '^""ii 



20 



WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 









mum, although an everlasting, will in- 
variably acquire a dull, dirty yellowish 
color in whatever manner it be dried, 
except when cured with sulphur va- 
pors, which will render it snow-white. 

Not all varieties of flowers are 
adapted to this process of preserva- 
tion, but the following named certain- 
ly are : 

German and Chinese asters, except 
the quilled asters, the needles or 
quills of which will become thin and 
shapeless. 

Roses of all varieties, especially 
the dark and light red. No white. 

Double peonies of all colors. 

Fuchsias in the bud or half open. 

Robinia or sweet-scented locust. 

Acacias of all red-blooming varieties. 



v^i 



Iftufflk A. . Jgg 

WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 21 

Pomegranate flowers of all varieties. 

Wisterias. 

Sweet-scented peas. 

Canterbury-bells 

Rhodantes. 

Statice. 

Clematis (the double). 

Peach-blossoms on the branches. 

Apple, pear, and cherry blossoms. 

Cacalia (the scarlet). 

Lupinus. 

Spirea (all red varieties). 

Solidago (nearly all varieties). 

Larkspur. 

Centaurea Americana. 

Candy-tuft. 

Agapanthus. 

Hollyhock (the double). 

Honeysuckle. 



r 



-3fF>Vi 



ulSk ™l!iu,ill|j 

22 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 



Experiments will satisfy the ama- 
teur as well as the professional florist 
that many flowers not named here, 
especially among those growing on 
wooden stems, can be preserved by 
this process with more or less success. 
The application of the flower var- 
nish, described in Chapter IV., to a 
flower not of a velvety surface, and 
on the lower side if so, will not unfre- 
quently adapt it for this method of 
drying. Most sulphur-cured flowers 
after having been hung up to dry for 
sometime will contract more or less 
from their original size. Much of this 
can be overcome by careful remodeling 
or arranging the petals after they have 
been exposed to damp air for a short 
time, and just before they are intended 
5 fi. 



n ft 

M M 

WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 23 



to be used. In large and very com- 
pact roses and other well-filled flowers, 
the contraction is not considerable. 

For future use keep the drying- 
box, which has been found to work 
well, in a place of comparative' even 
temperature, where the wood is not 
likely to swell from dampness nor 
shrink from too much heat. Any 
cracks or rents that may at any time 
be discovered in the sulphur-box 
should be carefully closed by pasting 
strips of paper over them before it 
is used, as success depends on a close 
confinement of the sulphur-fumes. To 
prevent any sulphur odor from being 
offensive, it may also be advisable to 
keep the box in an unoccupied room 

or place. 
% w 



1 



TO DRY FLOWERS IN SAND. 

F the several known methods 




#*■ by which flowers can be suc- 
cessfully dried, there is none so well 
adapted to general use as that by 
sand. It will no doubt, when once 
better and more generally known, be 
a very popular pastime ; and I think 
the day is not far distant when the 
sand-box will be considered almost 
indispensable in the flower-garden. 

If but a small quantity of flowers 
are to be dried, almost any vessel or 
paper-box may be used — even a clean 
flower-pot will answer. The article 

to be used should have one or more 

24 F 



WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 25 

small holes in the bottom, or better 
yet, on the lower part of one of the 
sides, to let out the sand at the proper 
time. This hole can be temporarily 
closed with a card or strong piece of 
paper placed on the inside. For gen- 
eral or permanent use I would recom- 
mend a box from five to six inches 
high, eight inches wide, and twelve 
inches long, made of half-inch pine 
boards, and provided on two sides with 
convenient handles. It can however 
be made larger each way, if the quan- 
tity of flowers on hand make it desira- 
ble. To facilitate the removal of the 
sand, the following arrangement is 
highly recommendable : Let the box 
above described be made with a 

sliding bottom and provided with a 

m 

y 



IJkjiiftir: : ; jrfjur. j,lf 

n =^ 

26 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

little knob in front, similar to a wooden 
bird-cage. Half an inch above this 
sliding bottom a close sieve or plain 
piece of wire-cloth should be fitted in 
and nailed to the box. 

The sand to be used is next to be 
considered. This should be the kind 
known as white silver-sand ; also, 
New Orleans sea-sand, an article of 
commerce generally to be had where 
plaster of Paris is sold. When this 
can not be had, white pit or fine river 
sand will answer. Whatever kind is 
used, it must be well sifted, then 
washed and stirred in water as lone 
as there appears to be any unclean 
substance in it. When the water, 
after being poured of! a number of 
times, becomes perfectly clear, the 

3 w 

f j|F '»JliF " ~ ' ' ■ ^Hil!""*!:! 



WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 27 

sand should be put in a suitable 
vessel and heated over a fire until it is 
perfectly dry. It is now ready, and 
can be advantageously used before it 
cools off entirely. On hot days the 
sand may also be dried in the sun. 
Cover the bottom of the vessel to be 
used with about an inch of sand, or 
half an inch over the sieve if a box 
has been provided as described above. 
Begin now to lay the flowers to be 
dried on the sand. Flat-shaped ones, 
like vincas, phlox, and others of simi- 
lar form, should be placed face down- 
ward, while those with bell or funnel 
shapes, and double flowers of every 
kind, must be turned so that the in- 
side of the flower can easily be filled 
with sand. The flowers should not 

wfv ~ _ ji !iF o 'ii 



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JKHv-JW^. 




touch each other. When placed 
properly, let the sand flow slowly 
around and in the flowers. Anything 
having a small hole through which 
the sand can flow, may be used for 
this purpose. An envelope or a paper 
bag, with an aperture in one corner, is 
a handy article for the purpose. It 
should be borne in mind that the future 
shape of the flower depends in a great 
measure on how it is placed in the 
sand and surrounded by it. Experi- 
ence will, however, soon be the best 
guide in this matter. 

When all are placed properly, they 
should be entirely covered with the 
sand; and, if desired, two or three 
rows of flowers can be placed in a 
similar manner over each other, if the 



1 



f 
y 



WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 29 

size of the box will admit of it. The 
box can then be exposed to the sun 
and a piece of glass placed over it, 
or, when practicable, placed on the 
upper shelf of a green-house. A well- 
regulated heat, — say between eighty 
and one hundred degrees Fahrenheit, 
— over steam-pipes, or anywhere else, 
where such regulation is possible, in- 
sures the best success with the drying 
process. If dried in the sun, and the 
day be a very hot one, it is advisable 
to neutralize the piercing rays of the 
noonday sun by placing a sheet of pa- 
per over the glass. Boxes placed in 
the open air in day-time must be 
brought under shelter at night, and all 
precaution taken that no moisture is 
drawn by the sand while the flowers 

m 

C 



Ijluiilflfc. 



30 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

are in, as that will spoil them. In a 
continual temperature of from eighty 
to one hundred degrees, most flowers 
can be dried in from twenty to twenty- 
four hours. Those with large and 
heavy cups under the flower, like 
hollyhocks, dahlias, and others, re- 
quire a longer time, and should be 
placed separate. After the flowers 
are dry, draw out the sliding lid of the 
drying-box, or the coverings put over 
the escape-hole of any other vessel 
you may have used, when the sand 
will flow out and leave the flowers 
free from it. They are now extremely 
crisp and fragile, and should be care- 
fully put away one by one for a few 
hours, when the sand remaining on 
them can be dusted off with a camel- 



5 
WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 31 

hair brush. They should then be 
placed in paper or wooden boxes, and 
these put in a dry place until needed. 
Before using the flowers put them 
in a damp place for hall a day, when 
they will become quite pliable and 
can be handled without injury. 

Flowers to be dried by sand should 
be cut during dry weather, and when 
the morning dew has entirely disap- 
peared, otherwise they will not keep. 
In most cases the stems should be cut 
off within an inch of the flower, as it 
adds to the convenience in placing 
them in the sand ; and the stems are 
also better replaced by pieces of wire, 
when needed. Another quite com- 
mendable method to dry flowers in 

sand is the following: To twelve 

w 

1 §l" r "Up J|F *'!l|l 



32 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 



quarts of sand take one ounce of gen- 
uine spermaceti and one ounce of 
stearine, and heat them in a large 
pot with a round bottom. While 
stirring the mass, see that the sand 
becomes equally glazed while hot. 
When cool, it may be used in the 
same manner as above directed. 
Thus prepared, it will never adhere to 
the flowers, which may be the case 
when ordinary sand that is not per- 
fectly dry and clean is used. 

The following are some of the flow- 
ers well suited for drying in sand : 

Pansy. Lobelia. 

Verbena. Stocks. 

Pelargonium. Browallia. 

Deutzia. Pinks. 

Forget-me-not. Tea Rose. 



Jl l!'""ll 



WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 33 !* 



Lantana. Mignonette. 

Sweet Alyssum. Primrose. 

Marigold. Thunbergia. 

Nemophila. Nigella. 

Abutilon. Whitlavia. 

Gaillardia. Campanula. 

Vinca. Violet. 

Chinese Pinks (the light-colored). 

Hollyhocks (the light-colored). 

Lily of the Valley. 

Narcissus (only the single). 

Dahlia (the light-colored). 

Day Lily 

Calliopsis (the yellow and brown). 

Besides these, many other flowers 
are adapted for this process ; and prac- 
tical experience will soon enable any 
one to make the proper selection. 
Very watery flowers, such as lady's- 



c 



W$"W *9IF*i 



1 34 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

slippers and hyacinths, will not dry 
well. As a rule, light-colored and 
white as also yellow and blue flowers, 
keep their colors best in sand. Pink, 
scarlet and the dark red ones fre- 
quently get much darker. 

Besides the flowers, many kinds of 
ferns, especially maiden-hair and other 
small and hardy varieties, can be 
very successfully dried in sand ; also, 
many kinds of leaves and ornamental 
mosses. The beautiful smilax dries 
so well that scarcely any change can 
be seen between the fresh and dried. 
Many of the above can be preserved 
by pressing ; but they will remain for- 
ever ''pressed," — flattened out, — while 
those dried in sand will retain their 
natural graceful forms. 



See "Publisher's Remarks" on page 195. 



9 



WF*Q r : 1! W rLlll ilinS 



3 



@w* 



Ct w 



THE DRYING OF FLOWERS BY CURING THE 
SAME WITH ACIDS. 



Xi 



'^AKE one part nitric acid,* and 




eleven parts cold, clean cistern 
rain water sufficient to sub- 
merge a bunch of flowers. Put the 
mixture in a glass or earthen vessel, 
and submerge the fresh-cut flowers 
in the same about one minute. The 
liquid should then be shaken off, and 
the flowers suspended in a shady 
place until they become perfectly dry. 
This, it will be observed, is the 
same method as that recommended in 
the first chapter to heighten the brill- 
iancy of certain flowers, but with L 

* See page i 5 8. 35 



llltllUHlflfc. Auilif 




this difference, that in the method 
recommended there the dipping is to 
be but momentary, while for the en- 
tire curing of flowers, as intended in 
this chapter, the submersion should 
last about fifty to sixty seconds. 

This process may be considered 
best adapted to flowers of a straw-like 
nature, as red xeranthemum, helichry- 
sum, gomphrena (globe amaranth), 
etc., the red varieties of which have 
naturally a dull and not very pretty 
crimson appearance ; but after passing 
through the acid process they adopt a 
beautiful bright-red color. All red 
varieties of asters and roses — the 
latter should be of a hardy, well-filled 
variety, — can be successfully dried by 
the use of acid, although for roses I 

ffjF ' JI 1IF } W "'Ulil 



Strife rife ritjf 

WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 37 

consider the sulphur process, as given 
in Chapter I., preferable. They can, 
however, after having been dried in 
sulphur, be greatly improved by being 
dipped into the diluted acid, and may 
be, during the winter, used to great 
advantage among the finest fresh-cut 
flowers. Florists may, at a time when 
flowers are scarce, avoid great incon- 
venience in this way. No plant shows 
better after this treatment than the 
beautiful little erica or heath blossom. 
Pity that it is not more common in 
this country ; but there are many simi- 
lar species of flowers found every- 
where which have nearly the same 
qualities. In hanging up flowers dip- 
ped in acid use only coarse strings, as 
light ones may break from its effect. 



Slfeunflfo jAn Jifff 



gw*** is- 

SPECIAL TREATMENT FOR CERTAIN FLOWERS. 



PlpXPERIMENTS made during a 

yaBd 

<SgS number of years have proved 
to me that some flowers are not well 
adapted for preservation by sand or 
sulphur, unless first strengthened by 
what I will term a "flower varnish. " 
These are such flowers, whose petals 
are either too thick to be cured by 
any ordinary process or too thin and 
flabby to withstand a treatment ac- 
corded to flowers of a more hardy 
nature. I will here give the names 
of some of either kind. To the first 

may be counted the following : 

38 

WW ' JI W inil i!il 



li'lfcjlfllfc 



WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 39 

Camellia. 

Pond-lily. 

Lilies of various kinds. 

Magnolia. 

* Passion Flower. 
Fuschias. 

* Cobea. 

* Oleander. 
Tuberose. 

To the second class belong 

* Morning-glory. 

* Petunia. 

* Azalea. 

* Geranium (light colors best). 

* Phlox-drummondii. 

* Poppy. 

* Nierembergia. 

* Whitlavia. 

* Cactus-blossoms. 



* Those marked with a star should only have the varnish 
^ applied on the lower side of the petals and down to the calyx. 



Silk jAk. afcuJtf 

40 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

The "flower varnish" before men- 
tioned is prepared and applied as fol- 
lows : Take one ounce of gum sanda- 
rac, a half ounce of gum mastic, and 
a piece of camphor the size of a hazel- 
nut. Pulverize all of it ; put it into a 
wine or other long bottle, and pour 
over it a pint of first-proof alcohol. 
Then heat it mildly, often shaking the 
mixture. After the ingredients have 
become thoroughly dissolved, let the 
bottle stand quietly until the dregs 
have settled at the bottom, when the 
clear portion should be poured off. 
This will soon assume the appear- 
ance and qualities of a transparent 
varnish, a thin coat of which may be 
put on the flowers with a soft camel- 
hair brush. When the varnish has be- 



|*xjlk jdlfcudtg. 

5 

WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 41 



come perfectly dry, put them into the 
sand-box and treat them as directed 
in Chapter II. Care must be taken 
that the sand be perfectly dry. Flow- 
ers preserved in this manner are never 
injured by insects, and keep for years 
if protected against dust. The varnish 
should also be applied to the calyx of 
flowers which have a tendency to drop 
their petals when dried in sand, as the 
geranium and pelargonium. 

If the ingredients above given be 
doubled to the same amount of alco- 
hol, it will produce an excellent elastic 
varnish for imitations of fruits, espe- 
cially the small varieties, as black- 
berries, cherries, strawberries, etc. ; 
also for artificial leaves, flower-vases, 
chromos, etc. 



Ifkoflfc jAudtg 




TO PRESERVE OR EMBALM FLOWERS WITH 
WAX, PARAFFINE (COAL-OIL WAX), 
j^ OR SPERMACETI. 

HIS method may be consider- 
ed specially adapted for the 
preservation of such memorial 

souvenirs as floral decorations used at 
weddings, funerals, or other occasions, 

when their preservation would be a 
source of future gratification. 

Especially is this method well adapt- 
ed to such a purpose, as the flowers 
then commonly used have already 
more or less a waxy appearance. For 
this process, either wax, paraffine, or 
spermaceti can be used ; but the first 
named is preferable, and I will here 

state how to proceed with the same. 

42 



IfkjiiSlk. Ac 4f 

WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 43 

Take one pound of good bleached 
wax, break it into small pieces, and 
put it into a porcelain vessel of not 
too narrow proportions ; then place 
a larger vessel on the fire to serve as 
a water-bath for the first, so as to 
prevent the wax from igniting. Place 
the vessel with the wax into the water, 
and keep this boiling until all is melt- 
ed. Then add three tea-spoonfuls of 
rectified turpentine to the wax, to 
make it soft and more pliable. When 
the mixture has turned to a perfect 
liquid, take the flowers, one by one, 
dip them into it, and with a pair of 
nippers, withdrawing quickly, gently 
shake the flowers, and then hold them 
upward so that the superfluous wax 
can run down to the stem. When 

•^ s* 

JJfSF ^F^ft 



IftioiiHk jiitiirjiillj 

44 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

the wax has cooled a little, — which 
takes but a few seconds, — lay down the 
flowers, but not before, as they would 
otherwise flatten on the lower side 
from the weight of the soft wax and 
become misshapen. The same proc- 
ess may be gone through with when 
paraffine or spermaceti is to be used, 
excepting that to these two substances 
no turpentine is needed. 

White flowers can be greatly im- 
proved by adding to the above prepa- 
ration, while in a liquid state, enough 
carbonate bismuth to cause it to as- 
sume a perfect milky color. It gives 
the flowers a beautiful brilliant ap- 
pearance, which is especially noticea- 
ble in lilies, tuberoses, camellias, white 
carnation pinks, p'rimroses. etc. Car- 

El 



WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 45 P* 

bonate bismuth can be had at any 
drug-store, and is a perfectly harmless 
and cheap article. 

It will of course be desirable in the 
preservation of funeral and other 
memorial souvenirs of this nature to 
preserve the leaves that have come 
with the flowers. For this purpose a 
preparation of a green color becomes 
necessary, which may easily be had by 
proceeding as follows : Prepare one 
pound of white wax in the same man- 
ner as that given for the flowers, leav- 
ing out the carbonate bismuth. To 
this add, when boiling, one ounce of 
tincture of carmine indigo (indigo 
paste), and one half ounce curcuma. 
Stir it well, and dip the leaves in the 

M li 

5 C 

f$F-J»$F — Jl liF " ,J "UH 



polk jAil jlgf 

46 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

same manner as above described for 
the flowers. 

If a dark green is desired, add a 
little more of the tincture ; but if a light 
green is preferred, a little more of the 
curcuma becomes necessary. 

To give the leaves a flocky, velvety, 
appearance, the dusting process, as 
given in the next chapter, may be ap- 
plied before the wax hardens. 

It may be considered superfluous 
to say that the success of the direc- 
tions given above depends in a 
great measure on the freshness of the 
flowers that are to be preserved. An 
already wilted flower can never be re- 
stored to its natural beauty, and it 
therefore becomes of the utmost con- 
sequence, especially during the heat of 

■ Up Oi" 

fjpniyr "J%|l«ll|l 



H kjuftii; aUkjtfg 



i 



m 



WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 47 

summer, that the preserving process 
be commenced as soon as possible. 
11 Never put off until to-morrow what 
can be done to-day," finds here a 
striking illustration. A few flowers, if 
subjected to the waxing process (with- 
out carbonate bismuth) when fresh, will 
soon decay and get black. These are : 
Camellias, tea-roses, bouvardias, jas- 
mines, and tuberoses. To these apply 
the flower-varnish, and then place them 
in warm sand for about twelve hours 
for partial drying. They can then be 
waxed the same as others. The 
petals of lilies are liable to drop off 
when dried in sand. To prevent this, 
run wires through a part of the center 
ridge, which, if neatly done, can not be 
noticed when the flower is waxed. 

WF^SF ' ai JIF Jil ilil 






@%«|>tcr Jg|. 




TO PRESERVE AUTUMN LEAVES, AS WELL AS 

THE VARIOUS KINDS AND SHADES OF 

GREEN LEAVES AND FERNS. 



0- &^ 

^HE method to be pursued in 
this chapter is partly the same 
as that given in Chapter IV. 
Prepare the same varnish as there de- 
scribed, and apply it to the leaves 
with a soft camel-hair brush. A small 
quantity of flock of the desired color — 
an article that can be had in every 
drug-store, and in various colors, — 
should then be spread on clean paper ; 
and the leaves, which must be partial- 
Jy dry, may then be pressed into the 
outspread flock. When perfectly dry, 

brush off such of the flock as does 

48 f 



WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 49 

not adhere to the varnish, when the 
leaf is ready for whatever purpose it 
may be intended. Leaves with yel- 
low or brown spots can be imitated 
very closely by putting the same spots 
in yellow or brown flock on the out- 
spread green, and slightly rubbing it 
into the latter so as to look more nat- 
ural. Press the varnished leaf on the 
flock so prepared, dust off when dry, 
and the process is finished. 

Natural autumn or variegated leaves 
which in the late fall months can be 
found in endless variety, and in the 
most beautiful and fantastically ar- 
ranged colorings, can be preserved for 
an indefinite period by using the 
varnish described in Chapter IV. 
M When dry, put the leaves singly on a 

4 

||pc -Jiiigni: jipir: 



50 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

clean piece of blotting-paper ; put an- 
other on top of this, and flatten them 
out with a hot smoothing iron. The 
method given above is based on pre- 
serving the leaves by the application 
of 'flower- varnish" and some colors. 
But should it be desired to keep them 
in their green color without the use 
of these, they can be dried in sand, 
as directed in Chapter II., by which 
many kinds of foliage can be very suc- 
cessfully preserved. Ferns can be 
treated in the same manner as the 
leaves, but for all the hardy varieties, 
their preservation can also be accom- 
plished most satisfactorily through 
the sand process. 



tl1lnr.ii.ftir, jAuJI 



SKELETON LEAVES. 



*)SliPHE art of investing" with a 
. "$W?l weird charm even the leaves 
which our divine Maker strews in 
countless numbers and varieties in our 
paths, has of late years had no incon- 
siderable share of attention by many 
lovers of natural beauty; and when 
in search of these beautiful, curious, 
and quaint ornaments with which to 
adorn the house, care should be taken 
that only such leaves as are perfectly 
developed be chosen. Leaves from 
young shoots, even when of large size, 
have little value for this process, being 
deficient in the strength of their fibers 

for the boiling process. Those leaves 

51 



SSufk 




PF^" 



jupiirjiiijj^ 



-;i | fi, 



WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 53 

that have been injured by insects, or 
are too much spotted from one cause 
or another, are valueless for skeleton- 
izing, as are also those of herbs, and 
other leaves of a soft, flabby na- 
ture. When a good store of finely- 
veined and healthy leaves are gather- 
ed, proceed in the following simple 
and comparatively inexpensive man- 
ner: 

In a quart of boiling water dissolve 
four ounces of common washing-soda. 
Add two ounces of slacked quicklime, 
and boil about fifteen minutes. Allow 
the solution to cool, and then pour off 
all the clear liquor into a saucepan. 
Another heating is necessary now; 
and when at the boiling point place 
the leaves carefully in the pan. Let it 



iipir '^F^lf 



glboflk. A.J4JI 

3 C 

If 54 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

boil all together an hour; and to 
replace the water lost by evaporation 
add a little from time to time. It will 
now be necessary to test the effect of 
the first hour's boiling, for which pur- 
pose take out a leaf and rub gently 
between the finger and thumb in cold 
water. If the cellular matter does 
not come off easily from the veins, 
boil them again for a short time. 
When the fleshy part is. found to have 
softened sufficiently, rub the leaves 
gently, one by one, under cold water 
until the perfect skeleton is exposed. 
At first their appearance will be a 
dirty white color. To make them a 
pure white, bleach them in a solution 
of chloride of lime: take a table-spoon- 
ful of lime to a quart of water, and 
fl W 

fiF^IJF -^F^lil 



WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 55 

add one spoonful of vinegar to the 
solution. In about fifteen or twenty 
minutes they will be perfectly white, 
and clear-looking. Dry them in white 
blotting-paper, beneath a gentle press- 
ure, when they will be ready for 
mounting or any ornamental purpose 
they may be destined for. 

Another method to skeletonize 
leaves is the following : In a glass, or 
well-glazed earthen vessel, mix one 
part of sulphuric acid with seven parts 
of clear water. Put the leaves into 
the mixture until the cellular matter is 
sufficiently softened, which may take 
about twelve hours. Then put into a 
sieve and remove the green substance 
by carefully pouring water over it. 
After having become dry, they may be 

i fw v 



56 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

used as they are, or bleached in the 
same way as stated in the preceding 
method. Although the last process is 
much more simple and less trouble- 
some than the first, the success of it 
is not always so well assured, as great 
care is necessary to keep the leaves 
from being " burned," or overdone by 
the acid. The leaves to be skeleton- 
ized should be collected from June to 
August, but never in wet weather. 
Those from tropical trees kept in 
greenhouses can, however, be made 
available for skeletonizing in winter 
when trees in the open air are without 
leaves. Those from the magnolia, 
orange, poplar, willow, aspen, maple, 
linden, apple, pear, holly, rose, and 

ivy have been found the most suitable, 

% 



tjlk Ar. : jtlc jJff 

WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 57 

while those containing tannin, as the 
oak and walnut, are unfit for the pur- 
pose. Before closing this chapter, it 
seems proper to give what is termed 
the "slow but sure" process, which, 
although very tedious, is preferred by 
many. It is as follows ; Place the 
leaves in a jar or wooden vessel and 
immerse them in soft water. Expose 
the vessel to the hot sun, or place it 
in some other warm locality for sev- 
eral weeks, when they may be exam- 
ined, and those that are found suffi- 
ciently soft should be placed in clear 
water, and the pulpy matter removed 
from them with a soft tooth-brush. 
According to the nature of the differ- 
ent leaves, these examinations may 
last from two to twelve weeks. 



uiiffifc .aiSfcjidtf 



@¥*3?*«° Sill- 

THE COLORING OF EVERLASTING FLOWERS 
AND GRASSES IN VARIOUS SHADES. 



!$5fN the shops of our florists, as 

*W3 we ^ as m man y homes, we very 
often see everlasting flowers, grasses, 
and mosses exposed, which being 
bleached, faded, and soiled are any- 
thing but ornaments. Even wholesale 
dealers not unfrequently sell and ship 
articles of that description which have 
but little similarity to flowers. I will 
now show how this class of flowers, 
grasses, and mosses may be prepared 
so that they will not only keep their 
good appearance for a very long time, 
but will even withstand the influence 



il'k. jJSfc. aftc JiH 




of dampness and dust. The process 
is simple as well as comparatively in- 
expensive. It is surprising to me that 
either this or similar methods have not 
been applied more generally hereto- 
fore, as it puts the objects named in 
such a state of durability that they 
may easily be renovated after having 
been exposed for years to damaging 
influences. 

No exact quantity of the aniline 
colors mentioned below can be given. 
They will of course vary in proportion 
to the more or less frequent use which 
is to be made of them ; but as a par- 
tial guide in the matter, I will state 
that one ounce of any aniline color 
dissolved in a half-pint bottle of recti- 
fied or first-proof alcohol is sufficient 

IB BI 

= = 

HF V ' aflF Ji 'il|l 



-A W 

GO WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

to color a great mass of everlasting 
flowers and grasses, and if kept cork- 
ed well will keep for years. 

COLORS AND THEIR PREPARATION. 

No. i. Crimson. Use aniline fuchsin 
red. This may be found in almost 
any wholesale or retail drug-store, in 
crystallized as well as liquid form. 
The crystals should be dissolved in 
first-proof alcohol. Put the aniline in 
a bottle, add enough alcohol to cover 
the same, then cork up, and let it 
stand in a warm place for a day. On 
the second day fill the bottle with alco- 
hol, and shake well until the aniline is 
wholly dissolved. If only a very 
small quantity of flowers is to be col- 
ored, the liquid aniline may perhaps I 
2 t 



fflk dk .AuiJff 

way d Kits of the flora. gi 



be considered preferable, in so far that 
it saves the trouble of dissolving. 

To apply the color, take a glass or 
well-glazed earthen vessel, pour boil- 
ing water into it, and add enough of 
the tincture to make it appear bright 
red ; and to make the shade lighter or 
deeper, as may be desired, dip the 
flowers or grasses in until they are 
colored to suit ; then dip them into 
clean cold water, and suspend them 
to dry either in the sun or near the 
stove. 

No. 2. Violet. Color: Aniline de 
pansee. Application the same as 
No. i. 

No. 3. Purple. (Redish violet). 
Color: Aniline de parme. Applica- 
tion the same as No. 1. 

f|F "OF V J ll 



G2 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

No. 4. Brown. Color: Aniline 
Bismarck. Application the same as in 
No. 1. 

No. 5. Orange. Color: Aniline 
orange. Application the same as in 
No. 1, except that the flowers or 
grasses after having been dipped in 
the solution must not be washed with 
water, because the orange-color is not 
of a quick-penetrating quality, and 
would wash off. This dye can best be 
purchased in a liquid state. 

No. 6. Blue. Color: Aniline bleu 
de lion. Application the same as in 
No. 1, except that a small quantity of 
sulphuric acid — about a table-spoonful 
to a gallon of water — is to be added 
to and mixed with the solution. The 
latter should be boiled from five to 

IflF V ''W ' JI, !lH 



WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 63 

eight minutes before the flowers or 
grasses are dipped into it. 

No. 7. Scarlet. Color: Aniline 
fuchsin red, mixed with a small quan- 
tity of aniline orange, — enough to pro- 
duce the shade wanted. Application 
the same as in No. I. 

No. 8. Black. Color: Aniline 
black 00 (pulverized). Application 
the same as in No. i. 

No. 9. Lemon- Yellozv. Color: Pic- 
ric acid. This must be dissolved in 
boiling water, — say half an ounce for 
one coloring operation ; more it will 
not be advisable to dissolve at a time, 
as all coloring-matter dissolved in 
water does not keep long. Mix this 
color with one quart of lukewarm 
water, when the objects to be dyed 

IP" 

IJI«|F — ■ "V^S 



ijtouilk. .3 AuS£ 

64 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

may be dipped in for about five min- 
utes. They can then be dried, but 
without any previous washing. As 
the picric acid is a strong poison, it 
should be handled carefully. Avoid 
inhaling its vapors, and also staining 
the hands with it, as such stains are 
difficult to remove. 

No. 10. Green. Color: One ounce 
of tincture of carmine indigo (indigo 
paste) and two ounces of alum to 
three quarts of boiling water. Stir 
frequently until all is dissolved, and 
then add a few drops of picric acid, 
which gives a more brilliant color. 
The latter is, however, not absolutely 
necessary, and may be replaced by a 
tea-spoonful of pulverized curcuma, 
which is harmless, while the picric 

m"w "v j "!iiii 



WONDERS OF THE FLORA. G5 

acid, as stated before, is a poison. 
When boiling, dip in the flowers or 
grasses until they turn to a bright 
light green. If a dark green is de- 
sired, leave out both the picric acid 
and the curcuma, whichever may have 
been used. The articles so colored 
will not stand washing in water before 
they are fully dry. 

No. ii. Pink or Rose. Use the 
color mentioned for No. i, with this 
difference, that but little of it must be 
put in the water. 

No. 12. Lilac. Use the color of 
No 2, but only a small quantity, as 
stated in the foregoing paragraph. 
Besides these, a number of other vari- 
ations may be made, either by mixing 
two colors or diluting with additional 

5 f 



c 
e6 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

water the more solid colors, as, for in- 
stance, the scarlet. By using the 
preparation by which this color has 
been produced, and adding about one 
third more water, a cherry color will 
be the result. By a still further addi- 
tion of water, the scarlet tint or peach- 
blossom can be produced. This, 
however, refers only to scarlet color 
No. 7. Scarlet color No. 13 is only 
for flowers with a yellow ground, as 
French immortelles. 

The same gradation of shades may 
be obtained in nearly every color by 
either diminishing the depth of the 
full color with the addition of water, 
or increasing a light shade by a grad- 
ual addition of more coloring matter. 

For further particulars on colors, see page 205. 






^ ^yp, ORNAMENTAL GRASSES. 



■ V 



£tff|R;.,OR these, the coloring process 
^J^j? has already been given in the 
foregoing chapter. The colors from 
No. i to No. 12 can be used for 
grasses as well as for everlasting flow- 
ers, with this difference, that they re- 
quire a longer dipping than the latter, 
their surface being generally of a less 
penetrable substance than the more 
delicately formed flowers. Grasses 
of all kinds, as also French immor- 
telles, require a peculiar treatment 
prior to the dyeing process. It is as 
follows : Set a large wash-kettle or 

J other suitable vessel containing about 

67 



Ifboiilflfc _ «i!!k jifeg 

"3 c 

63 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

two gallons of water, on the fire ; cut 
up into small -slices to that quantity of 
water a quarter of a pound of Vene- 
tian soap, which can be had in any 
drug-store. Allow it to boil gently, 
and when dissolved dip the grasses or 
immortelles into the water about half 
their length, or about as far as it is 
desired to color them. In a few min- 
utes they will lose their natural ap- 
pearance and color the water in the 
kettle. Boil about fifteen minutes. 

If it is considered more convenient, 
they may be tied into small bunches, 
two and two together, with a cord or 
thread, and hung over a stick placed 
across the k- ttle, so that their tops 
and part of the stems be submerged. 

When the natural color is extracted, 

W 



4 



!k;J£ 




ORNAMENTAL GRASSES. 



Wfv 



-wnM 



<S 70 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 



in so far at least as to color the water 
green, rinse in cold water, and hang 
out to dry. They can now be colored 
as already described. Grasses will 
assume specially fine shades if they 
are subjected to the sulphur process 
before coloring. If this is not con- 
venient, they can be bleached as fol- 
lows : Take two table-spoonfuls of 
chloride of lime and one of vinegar to 
a quart of water. Pour off the clear 
portion when settled, and immerse the 
grasses into it until nearly white. 

The variety of grasses that can be 
made available for ornamentation is 
very great; but I will here only name 
a portion of them, and such as I con- 
sider best for the purpose. For gen- 
eral information, I will give the botan- 
j E 

Wm y — jHpii: ^ 



IllfejiSlk. 



aAr 



WONDERS OF THE FLCIiA. 



71 



ical as well as the English names of 
most of the following grasses : 



BOTANICAL. 

Briza maxima. 
Briza geniculata. 
Briza gracilis. 
Phalaria canariensis. 
Agrostis nebulosa. 
Bromus briza formis. 
Lagurus ovatus. 
Penisetum longistylum 
Stipa pennata. 
Eryanthus Ravennae. 
Gynerium argenteum. 
Poa pratensis. 
Poa nemoralis. 
Anthoxanthum gracile. 
Agrostis vulgaris. 
Lolium perenis. 
Daxtilis glomerata. 
Briza pyrum siculum. 
Chloris barbata. 



ENGLISH. 



Quaking-grass. 

Shaking-grass. 

Large shaking-grass. 

Canary-grass. 

Bent-grass. 

Drooping-grass. 

Rabbit-tail grass. 

Long-pen grass. 

Feather-grass. 

Sugar-grass. 

Pampas-grass. 

Blue-grass. 

Wood-grass. 

Sweet vernal grass. 

Redtop-grass. 

Rye -grass. 

Orchard-grass. 

Glitter-grass. 

Beard-grass. 






wifv 



a wHS 



72 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 



LATIN. ENGLISH. 

Coix Lacryma. Job's tears. 

Eragrostis cylindriflora. Love-grass. 
Zea caragua. Giant maize (corn) 

Zea Japonica. Striped maize (corn). 

Timothy-grass. 

Broom-corn. 

Sorghum. 

Also, the following well-known cere- 
als, which belong to the family of 
grasses: Wheat, rye, barley, oats, 
rice, and millet. Any of these are 
suitable for ornamentation, if treated 
as directed in Chapter VIII., and page 
68, of this chapter. 

All grasses to be used for orna- 
mental purposes should be cut before 
the seeds develop in the ears. They 
must then be dried well before they 
can be boiled. 



4 > 




§ a i tcf 



TO BRONZE AND CRYSTALLIZE GRASSES. 



RONZED and crystallized 
grasses are of a peculiar splen- 
dor and brilliancy. If properly select- 
ed, they may be very advantageously 
used together with fresh as well as 
with preserved and dried flowers, and 
will heighten the effect of most any 
floral work, however delicate it may be. 
To Bronze. Spread over the grass 
a thin solution of gum arabic, — in 
other words, gum-water, an article 
found in nearly every household. Ap- 
ply with a soft brush, and when 
half dry put on bronze-powder with a 

•13 

J 73 



iftufc 




gilder's brush. After the gum has 
hardened shake the grass over a 
piece of paper to remove the bronze- 
powder which failed to adhere, and 
which may be reserved for future use. 
Colored as well as uncolored grasses 
may be thus bronzed. The various 
kinds of bronze-powders — gold, silver, 
copper, fire-browns, different shades 
of reds, and other colors — can be had 
at the drug or paint stores. 

To Crystallize. Solution of gum 
arabic is applied in the same manner 
as directed in the foregoing paragraph ; 
but instead of bronze, frostings of any 
desired color may be put on. The 
latter, however, does not adhere as 
readily as the bronze, and the gum 
should therefore not be quite as thin 



n 

WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 75 

as that used for bronzing. The finer 
the frosting is pulverized the better. 

Bronzed and crystallized ears of 
wheat, barley, oats, and the smaller 
varieties of Indian corn, are a novelty 
which the author of this book has in- 
troduced with grand effect, as larger 
decorations for dining-tables on festive 
occasions, such as society-suppers, and 
celebrations of a similar character. 
They can also be used with brilliant 
effect for decorating fair and festival 
halls, ball-rooms, etc., if arranged 
tastefully and care is taken to avoid 
the appearance of overcrowding. The 
process of crystallizing, by depositing 
crystals of alum on the grasses, is so 
seldom attended with any satisfactory 
results that I have omitted it entirely, y 



. 'jtk ^H 



«=3 




FRENCH IMMORTELLES. 

[Gnaphalium Orientalist) 

ERY few flowers, if any, are of 
such general utility, and form 
an article of such vast commerce, as 
the French immortelle. It is well 
known that the natural color of this 
little flower is yellow. To change the 
natural for other colors, it becomes 
necessary to extract the yellow, which 
is done as directed in Chapter IX. on 
" Ornamental Grasses.'' Several col- 
ors can, however, be given immor- 
telles without the extracting process. 
These are: Brown, scarlet, and dark 

J green, besides several variations, as 

76 



WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 77 

stated in paragraph No. 17 of this 
chapter. 

In the following directions for color- 
ing immortelles, the numbers begun 
in Chapter VIII. will be continued 
for the sake of easy reference : 

No. 13. Scarlet. Color: One ounce 
of borax dissolved in a quart of boiling 
water. The flowers should be dipped 
in until they show a bright scarlet 
color, but they must not be rinsed or 
washed off in water. Borax is a white 
salt, and in itself contains no coloring- 
matter; but its action upon the natural 
yellow of the immortelle and other 
everlasting flowers of that color is that 
it changes this to a bright red. 

No. 14. Red- Brown. Color and 
treatment the same as described in 

ffcW JU JliF J ll 



78 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

Chapter VIII., No. i, the apparent 
difference in the result (crimson in the 
first and red-brown in the last) being 
brought about by the yellow ground 
of the immortelle, while the color-sub- 
ject for No. i has to be made white 
or colorless by the previous boiling 
process. 

No. 15. Black. Color and treat- 
ment the same as No. 8 

No. 16. Dark Green. Dissolve two 
ounces of alum and two ounces of in- 
digo paste in two quarts of boiling 
water. Dip them in until they assume 
the desired shade, and rinse with clean 
water before drying. 

No. 17. Leaving the French im- 
mortelle its natural beautiful yellow, a 
little variation in some of them will 



PF jqpr MSjpc 



111 



|fk_ iHk. alfct 

WONDERS OF THE FLORA, 79 

often produce a very pleasing effect. 
The best of these variations is a red 
center, which can easily be imparted 
by dipping a small piece of wood or a 
feather in the solution of borax as de- 
scribed in No. 13, and apply to the 
center of the flower. 

Another pleasing variation is a 
green center, which can be had in the 
manner stated above by using the 
green color named in No. 10. 

Different colors of bronze-powders, 
as described in Chapter X., on " Bronz- 
ing and Crystallizing Grasses," can 
also be applied to immortelles with 
beautiful effect, the red and blue 
shades being especially brilliant on 
these yellow flowers. 

The foregoing colors, as stated in 
2 • c 



I 
% 80 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 



the beginning of this chapter, may all 
be produced on the natural color of 
the immortelles. For all others, how- 
ever, the extraction of the yellow is 
indispensable to success with the col- 
oring process. 

No. 1 8. Green. Color and treat- 
ment the same as in No. 10, except 
that the picric acid is not needed. 

No. 19. White. After extracting 
the natural color, and cleansing the 
immortelles thoroughly in cold water, 
they must, when perfectly dry, be 
cured by sulphur vapor, as described 
in the first chapter. 

No. 20. Crimson, Violet, Purple, 
Blue, Pink, and Lilac. After the 
flowers have passed through the boil- 
ing process they will easily adopt the 
^ w 

M IL 

Wf ' y w ' w i n% 



WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 81 

above colors, if applied as directed in 
Nos. i, 2, 3, 6, ii, and 12, respect- 
ively. These colors are considered es- 
pecially fine ; and although not abso- 
lutely necessary, it is advisable to 
apply the sulphur process, of Chapter 
I., as a bleaching method before the 
coloring is done. Ornamental forms, 
like crosses, wreaths, and anchors, with 
inscriptions, can be easily made with 
white immortelles. I will here only de- 
scribe the first: Take a plain board or 
wire cross and cover this evenly with 
green, dried moss. Pick off the heads 
of the immortelles, and paste them in 
close rows on the moss. When the 
whole is covered, take a small stiff 
brush and color such of the immortelles 
as will form the inscription desired. 

% 6 

5 y 

fprqpr ^F 1 *! 



^Ifuuiiiiic Jliuidif 




@w*«* mi- 

EVERLASTING OR STRAW FLOWERS. 

NDER the name of everlasting 
or straw flowers we under- 
stand those for which nature itself 
supplies the drying process ; that is, 
the petals, after the flowers have 
bloomed for a certain time, and while 
still retaining their natural colors, 
gradually turn to a straw-like con- 
dition, from which they receive the 
designation of straw-flowers. If, how- 
ever, their seed-vessels are allowed to 
form and ripen, the flowers themselves 
will have little value for ornamental 
purposes, as the seed-cells with the 

82 



-^»"''ji,1 



fgjkjlk ! jAunlfg 

WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 83 

seed will soon drop off and leave the 
balance of the flower in a shabby con- 
dition. To prevent this, it becomes 
necessary that all everlasting flowers 
be cut about the time the buds are 
opening, and then be dried in the 
shade. While some of these straw- 
flowers are extremely beautiful in their 
natural colors, others are less so ; and 
it may seem desirable to change their 
natural for other colors, or for the 
sake of variety to change some that 
might otherwise be considered very 
pretty without being colored. 

All the colors given in Chapter 
VIII. can be applied to straw-flowers 
without the previous boiling process ; 
but for such delicate colors as crim- 
son, violet, blue, pink, and lilac, it is 



84 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

advisable to use only the natural 
white varieties. 

Scarlet, No. 13 (with borax), can 
only be applied to yellow everlasting 
flowers. 

The following are some of the prin- 
cipal varieties of these flowers : 

Gnaphalium parviflorum. 

Gnaphalium leontopodium. 

Statice, all varieties. 

Waitzia aurea (morning gold). 

Catananche coerula (blue). 

Helichrysum, the colored only. 

The following straw-flowers, espe- 
cially the white, some of which have 
already been mentioned in Chapter I., 
require the sulphur treatment there 
given to make their colors more brill- 4 

Ifym^ ' ■ ^ n "ll|i|- 



P,r. ajflShc — : Aj^J 

Hi 
WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 85 



iant, and the white brighter than the 
natural white : 

Acroclinium (white and pink). 

Gomphrena (globe amaranth). 

Helichrysum (white only). 

Gypsophilla paniculata. 

Helipterum sanfordi. 

Cape flowers (Edelweiss). 

Rhodante (white and pink). 

Xeranthemum annuum. 

Ammobium alatum. 

Gnaphalium maritium, a native 
American everlasting flower, very 
common in the eastern states. Except 
its color, which is white, it differs but 
little from the French immortelle. All 
everlasting flowers, including immor- 
telles, should be exposed to heat before 
coloring to develop or open the flower. 









?"£* c<? si 



**!]£ 



MOSS— ITS VARIOUS USES AND HOW TO 
DYE IT. 



^(mTKOSSES of nearly all varieties, 



I 



x^^j? although very useful for nu- 
merous decorative purposes, 
will soon droop and seldom have any 
lasting value when detached from 
their sustaining source, unless other 
means are used to give them artificial 
life and brilliancy. These means are 
the bleaching and dyeing processes, 
which I will now describe : 

Dark Green. Dissolve two ounces 
of alum and two ounces of tincture 
of carmine indigo in two quarts of 

J boiling water; put in the moss after it 

j 8G 



iii* 



^k ■ - MzjS 9 



| WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 87 



has been well cleaned and bundled 
up; soak it a few minutes, until it 
has adopted a deep green color; 
then hang it up to dry without 
rinsing in water. 

Liekt Green. Same mixture and 
treatment as given in Chapter VIII., 

No. 10. 

Brown. Same color and treatment 
as given in Chapter VIII., No. 4. A 
light brilliant-brown can be produced 
by the addition of half a tea-spoonful 
of picric acid. 

Black. Same color and treatment 
as given in No. 8. 

Dried moss colors better than fresh. 
Our common sea-moss may also be 
dyed, and thereby be made orna- 
mental. A most beautiful effect can 



c 



jJFV 



88 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

be produced by the use of bronze- 
powders, put on sparingly, especially 
the silver on green moss. Applica- 
tion the same as directed in the chap- 
ter on bronzing grasses. 

Dotting green moss with small red 
or white spots by the use of fine dry 
colors or frostings, especially when 
whole sheets of the well known wood- 
moss are used, has a most beautiful 
effect, giving it at a short distance the 
appearance of a small field of little 
flowers. These spots of color have 
to be applied with gum-water when 
the moss is in the exact place where 
it is to be used. 

A splendid moss for decorating pur- 
poses is that known as lygodium, by 
some called ground-pine, also erro- 

•^ w 



m jik ■ 



.iiiBiir. adt£ 



WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 



80 



neously by others club-moss. It is 
found in great quantities in the New 
England states and in the northern 
part of Michigan. It will, however, 
soon lose its natural beauty unless 
subjected to a treatment like the fol- 
lowing: Take one ounce iron-glass 
to two quarts of water. When boil- 
ing, put in the green coloring-matter 
described in the first paragraph of this 
chapter. Put in the wreaths or other 
decorations, and proceed as above. 

White Moss. Dealers in floral dec- 
orations have for some time past wit- 
nessed an increasing demand for this 
article. It is used for the foundation 
of skeleton-leaf ornaments, in bridal 
bouquets, funeral wreaths, and various 
other kinds of floral ornaments. 



^F^l 



irfJiiunilH 




To prepare this for use, proceed as 
follows : First boil the moss in Vene- 
tian soap, as described in Chapter 
IX., to extract the natural color. Ex- 
pose it to the sun or other heat to dry. 
Then dissolve a table-spoonful of 
chloride of lime in two quarts of 
clean rain-water and leave it stand 
twenty-four hours. The vessel used 
should be either glass, porcelain, or 
earthen-ware, as metal of any kind 
will not answer. It is also advisable 
to keep it well covered. At the -ex- 
piration of the above time, pour off 
the clear solution into another vessel, 
and immerse the moss to be bleached 
into it for a short time. After being 
dried, it is ready for use. When moss 
has been boiled with Venetian soap it 

y 



WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 91 

will also readily adopt any of the 
finer colors mentioned in Chapters 
VIII. and XI. 

For green, brown, and black, the 
boiling with soap is not necessary. 

The well-known sea-moss is greatly 
admired by many for its beautiful long- 
trailing construction. Its natural gray- 
ish color, however, is considered -less 
attractive, and whenever desired can 
be changed to a number of pleasing 
colors. To do this, it becomes neces- 
sary to subject the moss to sulphur 
bleaching, as directed in Chapter I., 
after which it will easily adopt any de- 
sired shade. For various purposes, a 
slight application of bronze-powders 
will produce a very fine effect on 
this moss. 



polk i$huM 

4 i 




@%*3?*« j sis* 

HOW TO MAKE PRESERVED AND ARTIFICIAL 
FLOWERS FRAGRANT. 

RESERVED and artificial flow- 
ers may be greatly enhanced 
in value by giving them as 
near as possible their natural fra- 
grance. 

Roses. — The scent of roses can only be 
reproduced by applying the genuine Turkish 
rose-oil. Two drops of it mixed with a pint 
of distilled water (the aqua destillata of our 
drug- stores), and shaken for several minutes, 
will furnish perfume for thousands of preserved 
or imitated roses. Well corked up in a bottle, 
the water will retain the flavor a long time. 

Pinks. — The scent of pinks may be suc- 
cessfully given to dried or imitated pinks 

92 

|pfF """" — ^F^S 



tliiuiiilifc .j At Jg 

WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 93 

by sprinkling a little finely-pulverized clove- 
dust over them. This flavor lasts for many 
months. 

Violets. — Civet, 2 grains. 

Otto of rose, 8 drops. 

Alcohol, 2 ounces. 

Orange-Blossoms. — Oil of neroli, 1 dram. 
Alcohol, 7 drams. 

Heliotropes. — Tincture of Tonka beans, 1 oz. 
Extract of vanilla, 1 oz. 
Otto of rose, 4 drops. 

Tuberoses. — Extract of yhlang-yhlarg, 1 oz. 

Otto of rose, 4 drops. 
Hyacinths. — Tincture of benzoin, 4 drams. 
Tincture of storax, 1 oz. 
Extract of vanilla, ^ oz. 
Extract of yhlang-yhlang, ^ oz. 
Smaller proportions than the above can be 
had if desired. 

It must of course be admitted that 
it is utterly impossible to compound 

_y C 

li"iii'F 1 w y Jm 



preparations to imitate the sweet fra- 
grance of every flower. Nor is this 
necessary where a variety of them are 
clustered together, and where a flavor 
of a more general application would 
seem to suit best. Cologne-water is 
the most desirable for this class. It 
may be prepared as follows : 

Oil of lemon, y± oz. 

Oil of bergamot, ^ oz. 

Oil of lavender, % oz. 

Oil of roses, 20 drops. 

Tincture of benzoin, ^ oz. 

Powdered orris-root, }i oz. 

Alcohol (98 proof, if possible), 1 qt. 
Mix well, and let stand a few days ; then 
filter through paper. Proportionately smaller 
quantities can also be had. The above will 
be found an excellent cologne, and fully equal 
to much of that which is bought in fine bottles 
at high prices. w 

_J - S 

f|l«JilF — ^"'ll 



Ijkalk— JiiU'Jtiirjill 

1 



@W* 



Cf 




HOW TO MAKE BOUQUETS, WREATHS, &c, 
& yj> TASTEFULLY. 

^N the preceding chapters I have 
shown how you can, with small 
outlay, decorate your rooms per- 
petually with flowers, ornamental 
grasses, etc., but I hardly consider 
this work complete without giving 
some directions how to arrange a 
number of them — whether fresh or 
preserved — into bouquets, or other 
floral ornaments. 

How easy it is to make a bouquet; 

and yet it is a hard task for many 

persons. The secret of the art con- 

95 

lflF J| !lliF ^"'JIH 



gluiJk — A ^1 

9G WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

sists in knowing how to make a 
handsome and tastefully-arranged bou- 
quet with comparatively few flowers. 
To make a bouquet, cut your flowers 
and have them all ready before you 
begin. Fasten wire stems (about 
No. 26 soft wire) five to six inches 
long to them, as the natural stems are 
in general too short; and even where 
this is not the case they will make the 
bouquet look too clumsy, as the natu- 
ral stems are too thick and not so 
easily put together as the thinner and 
more pliable wire substitutes. 

Fancy, and the flowers actually on 
hand, will of course more or less regu- 
late the style of the bouquet ; but as a 
partial guide I will give the following 
as an approximate method to be 



ifk jiitfk i&hi x&H 

r 

WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 97 

pursued and what flowers to procure 
for the purpose : 

First, one dark rose for the center. 
Arrange around this five bunches of 
white ammobias (about four to six to 
a bunch) ; next, five light-red asters, 
five pink helichrysums, five light-col- 
ored roses, several deutzia blossoms, 
and a few immortelles, all fastened to 
wire stems about six inches long, as 
stated above. Gather fine grasses 
and varieties of moss, such as you 
may consider pretty for the purpose, 
and fasten these in small bunches to 
wire stems. You can now proceed 
to form the bouquet. First, take a 
little stick about the size of a lead- 
pencil into your left hand, and to this 

fasten with strong, coarse thread the 

7 



98 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

rose or other flower that you may 
wish to use as a center-piece. Around 
the lower half of the stick place a 
quantity of moss, which, if moistened, 
keeps the flowers fresh and fills up 
the empty space between the stems. 
Form now around the center the five 
ammobias and a few different colors of 
immortelles. With the thread you 
have, fasten the stems of all the flow- 
ers as you proceed by winding it 
several times around the stick. Add 
another layer of moss, and then place 
in position the asters, or when fresh 
flowers are scarce, a row of fine straw 
or everlasting flowers. Continue in 
this manner to place the balance of 
your flowers as taste may suggest, 
until your bouquet has reached the 



Illfe Jt , tHk. Jnlff 

WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 99 



desired proportions, always, if possible, 
making the full row around of one 
size of flowers. To give relief to the 
whole, the outer rim of the bouquet 
should always consist of small green 
leaves such as smilax, myrtles, rose- 
geraniums, rose-leaves, etc. To give 
the whole a particularly rich appear- 
ance, paste a few small flowers, like 
forget-me-nots, browallias, resedas, 
etc., upon the protruding tips of the 
moss. Here and there you may put 
in a few sprigs of fine grass; and 
lastly, let a few fuchsias or deutzia 
blossoms hang over the edges, which 
will give the whole a natural, artistic, 
and graceful appearance. Two or 
three handsome butterflies or beetles 

pasted on the leaves are a unique 

c 

fJF*BF ' — a^F 



qfefe • | 



100 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 



w 



and very pretty addition to the 
bouquet. 

White, pink, and red are the princi- 
pal colors for all floral combinations 
of this kind. Blue, violet, and yellow 
should only be represented sparingly. 
A little practice, combined with a 
small amount of good taste, will soon 
enable any one with the directions 
given above to compose a beautiful 
bouquet. 

Wreaths are also easily made — 
even more so than bouquets. After 
you have procured a wire ring of the 
proper size, put wire stems about four 
inches in length to your flowers, and 
fasten them to the ring with thread, 
in a manner similar to that above 
described. 



4 



With crosses, crowns, anchors, etc., 
proceed in the same manner as above 
described, the main thing necessary in 
these being that a correct model made 
of wire, and painted green, be pro- 
cured for a foundation to work upon. 
Florists usually keep these for sale. 

Baskets of flowers are arranged in 
the following manner: Fill the basket 
with common moss. If for fresh flow- 
ers, wet this; if for dried, use dry 
moss. Press it down tight, keeping 
it in position by stretching fine wire 
across the moss and fastening it 
to the basket. Again, as in all 
other floral work of this kind, fasten 
your flowers to wire stems ; but 
these need not be over two inches in 
length. Dip the stems into dissolved 



1JF W : *W ^linl 







gum arabic, and stick them into the 
moss, continuing to do so until the 
latter is entirely covered. Grasses 
can be stuck into the moss without 
wire stems. The more delicate flow- 
ers, to which you can not fasten stems, 
may be pasted on the moss. Around 
the handle of the basket twine deli- 
cate creeping vines, leaving the same 
hang over its sides. 




f#™HliF 



■^liF^lil 



J. 




£1 



P 



ic*> $£- ; 



CORAL FLOWER-BASKETS, STANDS, Etc. 

M|m"LOWER-BASKETS, stands, 
^K\ and other similar ornamental ar- 
ticles may be beautifully constructed 
in imitation of coral in the following 
manner: Take No. 18 well-softened 
wire, and with the aid of a pair of 
pinchers form the basket or flower- 
stand, the wires of which should not 
be too far apart. It will also be ad- 
visable to have before you some draw- 

103 



104 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

ing or picture of coral-work from 
which to copy the rustic-like forms for 
which this article is known. At vari- 
ous places let small pieces of wire 
project, which should be curled so as 
to give them the appearance of vines. 

Take some vinegar and immerse 
into it the basket or flower-stand so 
prepared until it becomes rusty, as 
the preparation hereafter named does 
not adhere well to the smooth wire. 

To obviate all danger of the rusty 
wire ever eating through, it is advisa- 
ble to varnish it or coat it with a solu- 
tion of glue. Dissolve a quantity of 
plaster of Paris in water until it as- 
sumes the consistency of cream. Steep 
into this the wire form until the plaster 
adheres to all parts of it. This must 



5 

WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 105 



be repeated several times, until its size 
is about equal to that of a lead-pencil. 
Then melt bees-wax of a good quali- 
ty, and sufficient for the work in hand. 
Into the liquid wax immerse a small 
closed linen bag containing about one 
ounce of alkanet-root, which will soon 
impart a beautiful red to the wax — 
much finer, in fact, than the vermilion 
commonly used. 

Another method to produce the 
comely and irregular shapes of coral- 
work is to fasten numerous pieces of 
Indian corn — softened and strung be- 
forehand — to the wire frame, and then 
cover as above. Small drooping orna- 
ments for hanging-baskets or other 
similar purposes can be beautifully 
made by using grape or raisin stems ; 



m 



m» n w ; -^"niii. 



10G WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

and proceed in the same way as for 
larger work. 

For white coral-work the process is 
precisely the same, except that instead 
of the alkanet-root, carbonate bismuth 
should be put into the wax in the pro- 
portion of one-half ounce to a pound 
of wax. 

Carbonate bismuth is a very light 
substance, and does not immediately 
unite with the wax, especially if the 
latter be too hot. Mix the first with 
the wax as soon as this begins to melt, 
and stir both gently until the whole 
turns to a creamy white. As long as 
this is not the case the mass will ap- 
pear more or less streaky. 



^i F m^i jji|if ^ii 



1'Jlkjdflk jrifejJgf 






ROSE OF JERICHO BEADS. 



' * iSN several monasteries of Pales- 

x49 t " ie tne religious have for cen- 
turies prepared beads made of roses, 
which are known as " Rose of Jericho 
beads," and which are bought by pil- 
grims and other travelers as precious 
souvenirs. The beads are formed into 
rosaries, crosses, necklaces, bracelets, 
and various other articles of use and 
ornament. The art of their production 
was kept a profound secret until the 
advance in chemical science made it 
possible to analyze the material of 

^ which they are made ; but this science 

107 



lUcaftc. Jk.j0g 



£m 



« 103 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 



destroyed to a great extent the secrecy 
previously connected with the process. 
As a member of the botanical sec- 
tion of Prof. J. B. Morsemann's Ori- 
ental Expedition, in 1857-58, I had 
during an eleven months' sojourn in 
the Orient the opportunity and special 
privilege of witnessing on several oc- 
casions the process of their manufac- 
ture ; and I believe many of my 
readers will appreciate a description 
of it. I have since then tried it 
frequently, and always with the best 
success. It is as follows: Gather 
about two pounds of the so-called 
garden cabbage-roses (the original 
Bourbon rose). The usual pink gar- 
den rose will answer the purpose if 
the first named can not be had, but is 






AuiS 




not as well adapted. Faded tips that 
have already turned white should be 
picked off, as these will speckle the 
beads. Pick off the roses, or rather 
their petals, at the bottom of the flow- 
er, just where the cup begins. Put 
them in a brass or china mortar, and 
pound them until the whole turns 
to a jelly-like mass. Spread this 
mass upon a perfectly clean sheet of 
tin and expose to the sun, or near a 
warm but not hot stove. When per- 
fectly dry, put the hardened pieces 
again into the mortar, and pound the 
whole to a fine powder. Then add to 
the quantity of roses stated above 
one half of an ounce of pulverized 
gum arabic and two ounces of rose- 
water. Stir the mass, and leave it 

|fv ■ w*A 



ykaftt ; aik J 

1 10 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

stand a few hours. If a specially 
strong scent is desired, one grain of 
musk and two drops of oil of roses 
may be added. After thorough mix- 
ing, and when in the consistency of 
soft putty, the mass may be formed 
into small balls either by rolling in the 
hands, or what is far better, by obtain- 
ing a pill-mold from a druggist for the 
purpose. Before they become too 
hard, run a large-sized needle through 
the center, to form a hole for stringing. 
It will take at least a week before the 
beads become perfectly solid. After 
this, they are ready for use. To get 
the beads perfectly smooth, they may 
be laid in copal varnish for a few min- 
utes. Should the quantity of roses to 
be had at one time be insufficient for 

§jcv& ■ w r ^M. 



1'lk Ac jrfluftf 



* 



WONDERS OF THE FLORA. Ill 

the article desired to be made, the 
product of the first gathering, after 
having been well mashed and dried, 
may be carefully put away in a well- 
corked bottle or jar for a week or 
two, until a new crop of roses can 
be gathered. The final preparation, 
however, should be done at one 
time in order to obtain sameness of 
color. 

Omitting here any of the numerous 
uses that may be made of these 
beads or ornaments, I will only hint 
that an article thus prepared from the 
products of your own flower-garden, 
and sent to a far-distant friend, would 
likely have an uncommon value. 

The beads will always retain their 
rose-scent, even if no other ingredients 



i&uAc :iifl!lkJ|f 

^ 112 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

are added, and be of a pinkish brown 
color. 

Experiments made with a number 
of other flowers were entirely unsuc- 
cessful, as the adhesive quality of 
the rose-matter was totally wanting, 
unless mixed with a proportion of gum 
arabic, — enough to spoil the prod- 
uct. Moreover, the natural fragrance 
of other flowers did not last long after 
they had been subjected to the above 
treatment. 




wf 'w — >w~m. 






f 



m*®*** rant- 

THE HERBARIUM. 

Directions for Finding, Preparing, and Keeping of Specimens. 

n|||j'N this interesting subject a num- 
rai|k ber of learned treatises have 
been written ; but taking it for 
granted that many of my readers have 
no access to these, and also consider- 
ing it a kindred subject to the main 
one in this book, — the preservation 
of flowers, — I will here give a few 
brief directions, mainly based on my 
own experience, which at one time 
extended over a period of seven 
months devoted almost exclusively to 
the collection of specimens for the 

herbarium. 

j 7 113 



114 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

A fair understanding of nature is 
the first thing necessary in order 
to carry out this instructive under- 
taking. In all parts of the globe 
plants may be found, from which 
interesting and useful information 
can be drawn. The phanerogamia, 
that is, plants with visible repro- 
ductive organs, can only be gathered 
to advantage when they are in full 
bloom. Wild flowers are generally 
preferable to cultivated ones, be- 
cause on their construction of the 
organs the flowers are classified, con- 
sequently their greater value for in- 
struction. It is advisable to collect 
for the herbarium specimens which 
have the natural seeds attached. 
When plants can be found that 

m 

L 



while blooming already form the 
seeds and fruit, they are preferable; 
but where this is not the case, both 
flowers and seeds may be separately 
kept. It is also advisable to collect 
the specimens during dry weather, and 
at a time when they are not covered 
with dew or rain-drops, as they will 
then preserve their natural colors 
much better. 

When going upon extended trips 
the botanist must be supplied with a 
specimen-box sufficiently large to hold 
a number of papers filled with plants ; 
also a portfolio containing a number 
of sheets of heavy book or letter 
paper, a quantity of white tissue-pa- 
per, and some white blotting-paper. 
It is necessary to have a light pole 



y 



4 



kjitfk- — 3iAkj^ 

C 

116 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 



with a hook on one end, — to draw 
down the branches of a tree or pull 
in a shrub with blossoms beyond 
convenient reach, — and on the other 
end a small shovel with which to dig 
up desired roots. Should a desirable 
plant be longer than the specimen- 
box or the sheets of paper on hand, 
fold it over; but never cut it in two 
or more parts, as it will then wither 
much sooner. The plants or flowers 
must be laid between the different 
sheets of paper, and upon arriving 
at home or at a suitable stopping- 
place they should be assorted and 
prepared for the purpose intended. 
Avoid putting water-plants among 
the others, as the gummy juice they 
contain would likely destroy the lat- 






jipr— — :*Hjmr 



r 



HCbL ■ ■ ■ . .- — ■ .1 ■ . ■ ■■— — -■ ■,. JMJMC JwEjS^ 

WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 117 

ter. Good heavy letter-paper, upon 
which several sheets of blotting-paper 
have been laid, is best for drying 
plants for the herbarium, as the latter 
absorbs the moisture very quickly, 
while the first prevents any injurious 
effect being communicated from one 
plant to another. 

For tender plants and flowers use 
good tissue-paper, as that preserves 
the beauty of the flower much better 
than common paper. I have success- 
fully dried thousands of plants and 
flowers by placing them, as above de- 
scribed, between sheets of paper and 
then putting them between boards, on 
the upper one of which I placed several 
large stones for the purpose of press- 
ing them down. The thick and fleshy 



^raqp ^^ 



fijjlkjillk. . — jjfik jjffi 

118 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 



branches may be easily prepared by 
splitting them into halves and pressing 
only the one side. Succulent plants 
should be scalded a few minutes before 
pressing, as they will then dry much 
sooner and lose none of their charac- 
teristics. 

When gathering flowers or plants 
it is advisable to write the name, and 
when and where collected, on a small 
piece of paper, and pin it to each 
variety, especially if the specimens 
are intended to be put under glass. 
When dry, the same variety will 
usually look alike, yet in their orig- 
inal state a great difference often 
exists between flowers of the same 
kind that grow in low and those that 
grow on elevated places. The gath- 



j 

T* WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 119 



ering of specimens near home does 
not of course require as extensive 
preparations. 

Plants and flowers intended for the 
herbarium may then be carried in the 
hand ; but care should be taken not to 
expose the gathered specimens to the 
rays of the sun, as they would quickly 
wilt and leave little chance for home 
study. 

The dried specimens may then be 
fastened to sheets of white paper by 
means of hot glue or by using slips 
of gummed paper to fasten them 
down. The plants, when so mounted 
on sheets of about ten by fifteen 
inches and folded in other sheets of 
manilla-paper, form a collection of 
dried plants for scientific use. A I 

m A m 



jUkjHltE 




complete collection of all the plants 
of a particular region constitute its 
Flora. 

The above brief directions will, I 
believe, afford some assistance to the 
amateur student in this branch of na- 
ture's study, but to those whose time 
and inclination lead them to seek a 
full knowledge on so interesting a sub- 
ject I would recommend the follow- 
ing standard works : Gray's Manual 
of Botany and Wood's Class-Book of 
Botany. 

The limited space of this volume 
makes it impossible to give a general 
outline of plants most desirable for 
the herbarium. A lull knowledge and 
description of these can be gained by 
a careful study of the works just men- 



■*/k 



-Dtfllkjdlf 



WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 121 



tioned. They afford a vast amount 
of , interesting matter not only for the 
students of botany, but also for those 
of other natural sciences. 



Note. — Just as the above chapter was ready for the printer, 
my attention was called to a new book entitled, " The American 
Plant-Book." For the purpose intended, it is the most com- 
plete and practical affair I have ever seen, and I can heartily 
indorse the following recommendation of it in Harper's Monthly 
for July, 1879: "The taste for collecting and preserving flowers, 
ferns, leaves, and grasses, which has been steadily growing of 
late years, deserves to be encouraged as affording a means of 
healthful recreation to young people, especially to young ladies, 
while it concentrates their attention upon a subject of interest 
which will prove a source of elegant and refining knowledge. 
Many of the difficulties that have hitherto attended the gather- 
ing and preservation of these beautiful but fragile children of 
nature have been removed, and the pursuit directed in a sys- 
tematic manner, by the instrumentality of the student's Atner- 
ican Plant-Book, recently published in this city. This book is 
in the form of an ingenious and convenient scrap-book, one 
half of whose large pages are of thick paper on which the 
specimens are to be fastened, and interleaved with these are 
as many more pages printed in outline for the analysis of the 
specimens. It also contains an alphabetical index, brief but 
sufficient directions for gathering, pressing, and mounting the 
specimens, and leaves of adhesive paper for fastening them to- 
the page. In neat and tasteful hands, the book may bo made 
an elegant and durable ornament; and it certainly provides a 
rapid and easy method for preserving and describing flowers 
and foliage of all kinds." 



8FV — — — — j^p - JUJ|) j| 



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Hi 



SPATTER OR SPRAY WORK. 






&? 



* gBPATTER-WORK, so-called, is 
'oJSf a little art which, although easily 
learned, may be the means of display- 
ing a good deal of fine taste in the 
arrangement and grouping of the ob- 
jects to be used for models. Not only 
can beautiful pictures be made in this * 



122 



I|F J %F- 



IF 3 !! 



WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 123 

way at a trifling cost, but lambrequins, 
screens, window-curtains, etc., made 
of light-colored or white stuffs, such 
as linens, jaconets, hollands, paper- 
muslin, etc., can be beautifully deco- 
rated in the same manner. Proceed as 
follows : For a picture use fine white 
card or bristol board, which should be 
securely tacked to a pine board. Have 
ready all the requisite patterns, such as 
pressed ferns, leaves, and paper pat- 
terns of crosses, or any other designs 
you may wish to form. Lay them on 
the paper just as you wish them to 
appear when finished, using as much 
taste as possible in the arrangement. 
Select gracefully-curved ferns, leaves, 
and stems, that your picture may not 
look stiff. When they are placed to 



&k.:4fc jAt. J^f 




suit, pin each point and edge down 
by driving a fine pin through the pat- 
terns and paper, into the board. 
Having prepared a good black ink by 
soaking Indian ink in rain-water, pour 
some of it into a small dish. Then take 
a stiff tooth or nail brush, dip it into 
the ink, and pass it over a fine wire- 
sieve, throwing the ink spray directly 
over the paper until it is perfectly 
black, thus forming the background. 

In order to shade your picture, re- 
move the ferns, etc., a few at a time, 
throwing more spray after each re- 
moval, and so on until all are off, 
when the picture will be completed. 

Patterns may be taken from many 
of the beautiful pressed pictures so 
extensively used for decorating pot- 



WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 125 P 1 



tery and other fancy work, if they 
are cut out close and even with the 
contour of the object they represent, 
especially in ferns, grasses, etc.; but 
where the whole picture forms only 
one piece they should be traced on 
transparent linen and cut out of this. 
For window-curtains, and similar arti- 
cles to be decorated, proceed in the 
same manner as with those on paper. 
Graceful figures of flying cupids hold- 
ing wreaths or strewing flowers are 
especially suitable for the last named 
articles. 

To take impressions of leaves and 
the flat varieties of flowers for a 
pretty wall ornament proceed as fol- 
lows: Take lampblack or gas 
lamp-black; mix it with sweet-oil 







(olive-oil) to the consistency of com- 
mon oil-paint, and paint a sheet of 
writing-paper with it. Lay on the 
paper so blackened the flower or 
leaf from which an impression is to 
be taken ; then put over it a sheet 
of paper, and upon this lay a piece of 
thin leather or pasteboard, and sub- 
ject the whole to a slight pressure. 
The blackened flower or leaf should 
then be placed on the paper, which 
is to be imprinted and another press- 
ure applied. When the leaf or flower 
is removed, a clean and perfect im- 
pression of the same will appear on 
the paper. All possible colors may, 
instead of the black, be used with 
the same success. 



mp riu w r v-il 






-jAurf 




W 



«;pict? 




HOW TO MAKE BEAUTIFUL PICTURES OF PRE- 
SERVED FLOWERS, ORNAMENTAL 
FERNS, AND MOSSES. 

HE taste for home ornaments 
oftentimes takes the most 
unique and fanciful forms, while again 
it not unfrequently has for its objects 
the simplest products offered by na- 
ture herself. I will here refer to only 
a few for illustration. 

To the first class we may count the 
deep interest lately taken by so many 



127 



i# nil !IF~ 



" JII J!iF^I|il 



'Mu\ik. A ;4 r f 

n — » 

= y 

128 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 



in pottery decorations ; that is, the art 
— if we may so call it — of decorating 
pottery-ware with those exquisite little 
ornaments called scrap-pictures. That 
a great deal of fine taste has and is 
still being displayed in this decorative 
art, will be readily admitted. 

Another instance is the for several 
years prevailing " motto idea." For 
a long- time the manufacturers of 
"mottoes" could hardly supply the 
demand. While some of these 
mottoes were very appropriate, and 
the work on them beautifully done, 
numerous others had little if any 
meaning in connection with their use 
as home ornaments ; and on the whole 
it is pleasant to think that their day 
has gone by. 



§JF ' J "IF in 9 in "il 



uftir ji#£ 




The taste for such home ornaments 
as are gathered from nature herself 
usually rests upon a more enduring 
basis. 

The collection of mineral speci- 
mens, for instance, is seldom aban- 
doned when once begun. So it is 
with herbarium, aquarium, butterfly, 
and other collections of natural curi- 
osities. It is so to a high degree with 
flowers in their natural state, and it 
will undoubtedly be so with preserved 
flowers when this subject once be- 
comes better known and is studied 
more closely, especially as preserved 
flowers are by their nature best adapt- 
ed for home ornaments. It may be 
said that the beginning is indeed 

already made. I had the pleasure 
1 9 



130 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

lately of inspecting the wall-ornaments 
of a fine parlor, which consisted al- 
most exclusively of pictures formed 
of preserved flowers, ornamental 
grasses, and ferns, all composed by 
the tasty and industrious lady of the 
house, who is already somewhat ac- 
quainted with the art of preserving 
flowers. I will here describe a few 
of these pictures : 

The ground on which they are 
formed is usually black card-board ; 
but other colors can be used equally 
as well, especially drab, brown, or 
buff. 

For a foundation, No. i has a few 
preserved ferns, neatly arranged to a 
height of ten inches by six inches 
wide. Six preserved pansies of differ- 



|£k A. .Jiftr. zSg 

WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 131 

ent colors and two pelargoniums are 
tastefully placed over and partly 
under the ferns. Several sprigs of 
fine ornamental grasses peep out at 
the central part, completing this simple 
but pleasing picture. It is covered by 
a gold-lined mat, with an opening 
13 by 7, and set in a one-inch gold 
frame. 

No. 2 is still more simple. It con- 
sists of several sprays of preserved 
salvia splendens (scarlet), interspersed 
with beautiful grasses of different 
varieties. 

Nos. 4 and 5 are larger sized pict- 
ures, formed entirely of natural and 
colored ornamental grasses, so attach- 
ed to the black card-board that the 
full form of each is distinctly seen. 



w 



a 



132 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

The effect of all these is much finer 
than can be gathered from this de- 
scription. 

Other beautiful ornaments are form- 
ed inside of mats, about 5 by 8 inches. 
They are small but very elegant 
bouquets, composed of such preserved 
flowers as pansies, feverfews, forget- 
me-nots, delphiniums, and others, in- 
terspersed with fine mosses and orna- 
mental grasses. The stems are ap- 
parently tied with bright-colored silk 
cord, giving them a very graceful 
finish. These and similar floral com- 
binations require to be set back in the 
frame about one inch from the glass. 
I will also suggest that very small 
but fine willow-baskets can be cut in 
the middle and the one half glued to 



h 



~w n, m. 



WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 133 

a piece of card-board to be filled with 
flowers, grasses, and moss. When 
tastefully finished and set in a deep 
frame, they form tableaux that can 
not fail to be admired. 

I have made a rustic cross formed 
of common bark and resting on a 
purple (card-board) ground. Its base 
is covered with fine mosses, and the 
whole ornamented with numerous 
preserved flowers, ferns, etc., some- 
what like the engraving on page 122. 
It is greatly admired by all who have 
seen it. 

That fancy baskets and other re- 
ceptacles can be filled with preserved 
flowers and ornamental grasses and 
placed under glass shades for parlor 



" J W 1 ^ 



ornaments, it is of course hardly nec- 
essary to state. 

With these few examples, I believe 
indications enough have been given 
for a large store of ideas as to how 
your home may be beautifully deco- 
rated at very little cost. The subject 
offers a wide field for a fine display 
of decorative genius ; and even chil- 
dren may try their hands at it with a 
good prospect of success. 

In arranging this class of pictures 
and tableaux, it will be necessary to 
attach the flowers, grasses, and mosses 
with a little gum arabic, as they would 
otherwise be likely to shift out of po- 
sition. From flat-shaped flowers, like 
pansies, verbenas, phlox, etc., the stems 
should be entirely cut off in picture- 
work. Small flowers, like forget-me- 
nots, browallias, violets, etc., look best 
when attached to sprigs of fine moss. 

L 

flF^F ■ ^ilF'^Ill 



gfkjtJflfet - 



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TO COLLECT AND PRESERVE BUTTERFLIES, 
AND OTHER INSECTS. 

npRE SERVED butterflies and 
Jo moths may, on account of their 
^^ brilliant colors, be very effect- 
ually used for ornamental purposes. 
They are very proper and beautiful 
additions to any bouquet of natural 
or preserved flowers. The French 
modistes, known for their exquisite 
taste, employ them as ornaments on 
ladies' dresses, bonnets, and coiffures. 
The toilet of a Brazilian lady would 



135 



IflFV 



-^"ii 



Hk oik jik jj(i 

136 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 



not be considered perfect without the 
attachment to it of some gay-colored 
butterfly or gold-glittering beetle. A 
well-arranged collection of nicely- 
dressed butterflies and moths, put up 
in elegant glass cases, is one of the 
most attractive ornaments of a sitting- 
room or parlor, and certainly more 
interesting than many of the common 
pictures we often see there. 

The study of natural history be- 
longs to the ordinary discipline of 
many of the common elementary 
schools of Europe ; and the young 
people generally take great delight 
in the study of entomology, princi- 
pally in that of butterflies and beetles, 
collections of which can be found in 
many private residences. 



gk Ac Jk - 4f 

<fi WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 137 



J 



It is pleasing to know that in this 
country also the study of entomology 
is gradually being introduced into at 
at least the higher graded schools. 

The lepidoptera, that is, insects hav- 
ing four membraneous wings, are com- 
monly divided into three classes : 
i. Butterflies. 

2. Sphinxes, (also sphinges). 

3. Moths. 
The butterflies, which fly during the 

day-time only, have large broad wings 
and small bodies. The sphinxes 
make their appearance in the morning 
dawn and evening twilight, and have 
comparatively long and narrow wings 
and very large bodies. The moths, 
which fly only at night-time, have 
large wings and thick bodies. 

L 

nr ■ — W r m 



|jh__ _______ _ _|i 

138 W0NDER8 OF THE FLORA. 

As it requires great skill and activ- 
ity to catch butterflies and moths 
enough for a collection, and as their 
wings are easily injured or deformed, 
— their color being very delicate and 
liable to be rubbed off, — it is prefera- 
ble to gather the caterpillars, or larvae, 
and the pupa), and await the develop- 
ment of the butterfly. Many varieties 
of these can be collected by shaking 
the branches of trees or shrubs over 
an umbrella, in which they may fall 
without being injured. 

The best time for gathering them 
is early in the morning before the dew 
dries up, and before the temperature 
becomes too warm. In the spring-time 
more varieties may be obtained than 
in the summer ; but in order to secure 

fj j|F" Jll U|F ! V '^M 



WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 139 

a perfect collection, pupre or larvae 
should be gathered at all times be- 
tween the middle of April and the 
middle of October. The caterpillars 
of the butterflies are generally long, 
slender, and thin-haired. Those of 
the sphinxes are thick, large, smooth- 
skinned, and have a horn at the end 
of the tail. Those of the larger 
moths resemble the caterpillars of the 
sphinxes, but the smaller are generally 
long-haired. To raise the perfect in- 
sect from the caterpillar requires 
considerable care and attention. 
First, it is necessary to ascertain 
from which special plants the cater- 
pillar takes its nutriment, for it will 
starve before eating any other food. 
The general rule is to give the 

T4IF :agK *FH 



^k Jttk. . ±M.j>&M 

140 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

caterpillar the leaves of the same 
plant on which it was found. But 
this is not always a safe guide, and 
it is therefore advisable that the 
collector of insects should procure a 
book from which this information can 
be obtained. Several books have 
been published on insects, more or 
less valuable to the student of ento- 
mology. Harris on " Insect: Injurious 
to Vegetation" and Figuier on "The 
Insect World" are valuable works. 

The caterpillars are best kept in 
glass jars adapted to their size and 
number, and covered with perforated 
paper or sieve-stuff, in order to admit 
fresh air. They should be placed in a 
dry and light place, but not exposed 

to the hot sun. The bottom of each 

m 9 



Hjlk jiiUlk. , alfc ni>£ 

WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 141 

jar should be covered with at least 
two inches of sand, and should con- 
tain a branch or twig to give those 
moths which make cocoons an oppor- 
tunity to fasten themselves thereon. 
Many butterfly larva) suspend them- 
selves upon a branch before the trans- 
formation, and their pupa) remain in 
the same position, and with the head 
downward, until the butterfly is devel- 
oped. Others, and most all the cater- 
pillars of the sphinxes, bury themselves 
in the sand before the transformation 
into the pupa). The butterflies need 
only from two to six weeks for both 
transformations, while many of the 
large moth pupa) remain over winter 
in their inert condition. The cater- 
pillars must be regularly provided with 

m r w ■ v jn Jiil 



HJkjiSlk. ; Jiflfc jI|» 

5 

142 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 



fresh leaves, and no wilted vegetable- 
matter should be allowed to remain in 
the jar. 

To obtain good specimens of but- 
terflies, they should, after being thus 
raised, be killed about the time they 
are acquiring their perfect state, and 
before they begin to fly. 

The catching of moths is compara- 
tively very easy. During the day-time 
many of them may be found on the 
north side of large trees, fences, stone 
walls, and the cornices of buildings, 
where they sit still and may be 
secured by throwing a net over them. 
The net used for that purpose and for 
catching butterflies has the form of a 
small fish-net. The bag may be 
fifteen to twenty inches long and eight 

eg 
n 

flF^F ' '^JliF 



tjl!iiuiill!lk afik i«m 

WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 1 43 

to ten inches in diameter, made of 
tulle or good mosquito-bar stuff, and 
stiffened by a wire ring, which is affix- 
ed to a stick about four feet long. 

The practice indulged in by some 
of pinning up the butterfly and leav- 
ing it come to its end after a more or 
less lengthy torture seems like a cruel 
one, as it is an easy matter to kill it in 
an instant. By taking hold of its 
breast with the thumb and the index 
finger under the wings and giving it a 
slight pressure, life becomes extinct in 
a moment. The larger moths and 
sphinxes, however, are more tenacious 
of life, and by their fluttering after be- 
ing caught their color is often impair- 
ed. Here the use of chloroform is 

almost indispensable. Draw a thin 

« & 

J I 



iLlioilk 




wire through the cork of your little 
chloroform bottle, fix a small piece of 
sponge on the end of the wire, and 
while holding firmly the body of the 
moth or sphinx with the thumb and 
index finger of your left hand under 
the wings, touch its head with the sat- 
urated sponge, and the insect will 
immediately become stiff. Some of 
the larger moths and sphinxes do not 
die from the effects of the chloroform ; 
therefore benzine, which does not 
affect the color of their wings in the 
least, must be put on the head and 
body in the same way as the chloro- 
form. Benzine is sure death to all 
insects. 



§|»n f|F — ^IF Jl, fl 






THE DRESSING OF BUTTERFLIES AND OTHER 
INSECTS. 




N the formation of a collection 
of insects the dressing of them 

is a matter of special import- 
ance, as it gives them a fresh and 
life-like appearance. It is also nec- 
essary to secure regularity and sys- 
tematic arrangement of a perfect 
cabinet. A dressing-board can be 
made in the following manner: 
Take two smoothly-planed strips 
of soft wood, — either white pine, 
linden, or poplar, — -one inch thick, 
three inches wide, and twenty inches 

long. Lay the two strips flat on 
w 145 



yhuJk , jdBkjri^ 



» 



146 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

the table, leaving a space of one 
quarter of an inch between them, 
and nail over them, at each end, 
a small strip ; then nail on these 
small strips, right under the slit be- 
tween the two large ones, another 
strip, on which pieces of cork must be 
glued or nailed. The slit between 
the two larger strips should be exactly 
wide enough to meet the bodies of the 
butterflies or moths, and it is therefore 
necessary that the collector should 
always have three different dressing- 
boards, — one adapted to insects with 
large bodies, one for middle-sized, and 
one for smaller ones. Run a pin 
about two inches in length through 
the breast of the insect ; stick the pin 

in the cork under the slit of the dress- 

h 

y 



ing-board, so that the axles of the 
wings are at a level with the board; 
then spread out the wings regularly 
and to suit the taste, and fasten them 
to the board by pinning small pieces 
of writing-paper over them, — but care 
should be taken that the pins which 
fasten these papers are not run 
through the wings, — and then let the 
insect become perfectly dry. Some 
collectors lay pieces of glass on the 
wings. This method makes it nec- 
essary that the dressing-board be 
guarded against any movement; but 
when the paper strips are used it will 
bear moving, and may be hung upon 
a wall or be placed most anywhere. 
Moreover, when fastened down with 
paper the wings of the insects can be 



1 

^ 148 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 



better arranged, fastened, and secured 
against outside injury. Butterflies 
will be dry in three days ; larger 
moths or sphinxes in two weeks. 

The great enemies and devastators 
of insect cabinets are worms and the 
larvae of small moths. The only re- 
liable protection against these is the 
poisoning of the insects with arsenic. 
A thin solution of this drug, which can 
be bought at any drug-store, should be 
carefully applied to the body with a 
soft hair-brush ; or it may be injected 
into it with a small syringe. A 
very small quantity of arsenic is suffi- 
cient to protect any insect against the 
attacks of worms or small moths, and 
to mummify its body. 

The boxes or cases in which the 



WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 149 

collections are kept should be tight 
enough to prevent any smoke or dust 
entering, and must never be exposed 
to sunshine. The glass plates should 
be covered with some sort of curtain 
in order to prevent the continuous in- 
gress of light, which would in less 
than a year fade the colors of the 
insects. Always keep a small lump 
of gum camphor or a sponge satu- 
rated with carbolic acid in each box. 

Beetles need no special dressing. 
They are killed by immersion in al- 
cohol or cologne-spirit. 

Winged insects of other classes are 
treated in the same manner as butter- 
flies. 







r^U rfkjjgt 



4 




THE ART OF MAKING WAX-FLOWERS. 4fr 

O varied and numerous are the 




books and pamphlets written on 
the art of making wax-flowers that it 
seems almost presumptuous to add 
another line to these, oftentimes, well- 
written instructions. But having for a 
number of years devoted a great deal 
of time to wax-flowers, and endeavor- 



* This chapter was kindly contributed by Miss K. A. K , 

who is an adept in the art, and whose charming pieces of wax- 
work are greatly admired. 

150 

^c-^fc ^rr^ 



eel to reach as near as possible the 
point of perfection in the art, I trust 
that my practical experience may not 
come entirely amiss to those who have 
already made them with more or less 
success, as well as those who are be- 
ginning the study of this most inter- 
esting and beautiful art. 

It is my custom to read and study 
carefully whatever comes under my 
notice on this subject in the hope of 
finding something valuable that I did 
not know before, being convinced that 
in this as well as in all other things 
the experience of others can be made 
a valuable guide for our actions. 

It is pleasant to know that the ex- 
quisite productions in the art of wax- 
flower modeling, exhibited during the 



152 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 



last few years at the world's great 
expositions, have largely increased 
the interest in this beautiful art. 

A most important point, which 
however very many persons seem to 
overlook, is that wax-flowers are not 
like other artificial flowers ; that is, that 
they need only to resemble the natu- 
ral prototypes. Wax-flowers, to be 
worthy the name, must imitate nature 
so closely that they are apt to deceive 
the observer; and it should be the aim 
of all who desire to become adepts in 
the art to consider no flower a success 
that has not a deceiving similarity to 
the natural flower. 

No matter how large a vase or 
basket you may wish to fill, or cross, 
anchor, or harp you may desire to 



UkA 



WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 153 



decorate, you will not need more than 
from twelve to fifteen varieties of flow- 
ers with their respective leaves, as 
you rarely see a greater number than 
that arranged in decorations made of 
natural flowers. It is not my intention 
to give a description how to make 
that many kinds of flowers, as the lim- 
ited space in this book will not permit 
it, but the few I shall describe will, I 
trust, enable you, with the aid of 
nature, which is within the reach of 
every one, to obtain a fair knowledge 
of the art, and patience and practice 
will do the rest. 

We often see imitations of pansies, 
certain kinds of verbenas, speckled 
petunias, etc., which are so unlike 

nature that though we can not help 

p 



154 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

but admire the courage that under- 
takes so much, we must lament the 
very poor success of the makers The 
pansy, especially, is seldom well imi- 
tated. It requires the skill of an artist 
to paint it ; and unless it fairly speaks 
to you it can not be considered 
well done. My advice is to let this 
and similar flowers be among the last 
you attempt to make. Another mis- 
taken idea is that some persons want 
to make wax-flowers fast, — make a 
great quantity in a short time. To 
such I would repeat the saying, 
"That which is worth doing at all is 
worth doing well;" and if after spend- 
ing a few days longer on a handsome 
piece of work it meets your own and 
your friends' perfect satisfaction, will 

L 



WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 155 

you not feel repaid for all your 
trouble? In making wax-flowers, the 
most time is consumed on the stam- 
inas or stamens ; and whether the 
flowers shall be perfectly natural or 
not really depends to a great extent 
on these. 

It is best not to use bought stam- 
inas at all for wax-flowers, except 
for the open rose ; and though it 
is a most uninteresting work to 
make these, it is well not to be- 
come discouraged, for when the 
work is finished you will not regret 
the time spent thereon. 

Nearly all books on wax- flowers 
give elaborate instructions on the 
mode of sheeting wax; but as this 
article is now so much cheaper than 



15G WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 



it has been, and the quality and 
colors as fine as could be desired, 
I will omit the sheeting process, 
especially as but few persons use 
enough of it to pay them for the 
long and laborious task of sheeting 
their own wax. Nor will I give a 
long description of the tools, colors, 
and other materials necessary in the 
prosecution of this work. A list of 
these can be found at the end of this 
book. 

For stems, use the white cotton- 
wrapped wire, of different sizes to 
correspond with the flowers you are 
making. Cut green wax into strips 
about one eighth of an inch wide, 
and put them around the wire ; then 
roll with your index finger and thumb 



WF 11 ^ :i W n TWft 



"3 f 

WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 157 ? 



till the steins are perfectly round and 
smooth. For seeds use mostly the 
white stiffened thread, which comes 
prepared expressly for flowers. But 
for such flowers, the centers of which 
should not be stiff as the honey- 
suckle and others, get either a nice 
white quill or a small but firmly-set 
and bright-colored feather, like those 
used by milliners, the threads of which 
are well adapted for the purpose. The 
color can be selected according to the 
natural one in the model before you. 
In imitating natural flowers, always 
aim to get two alike, — one to be 
looked at for a model and the other 
to take apart. For the latter purpose 
get regular card or very thin paste- 
board on which to lay the natural 



il'ittfjillfiic . — rifeudltf 

158 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 



petal to trace the pattern from, and 
which can then be cut out. Mark on 
this pattern the name of the flower, 
as well as the number of petals it 
requires, so that you can make the 
same another time, when the natural 
flower can not be had to copy from. 
It is also advisable to keep one well- 
made wax-flower of each kind for 
future reference. When the petals 
are to be cut out of the wax take a 
clean pasteboard box-lid, lay a sheet 
of wax with the tissue-paper under it 
thereon, and with a pointed head-pin 
draw a cutting line around the pattern. 
In this way the cutting is much more 
even, as well as speedy, than when 
done with the scissors, as the wax 

does not have to be handled until the 

p 



WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 159 

whole sheet is thus cut out. Now 
take off the petals, and either arrow- 
root or paint them, as may be re- 
quired. All petals intended for white 
flowers should be well arrow-rooted, 
with the exception of the small part 
to which the stem is to be fastened, 
as nothing adheres to wax covered 
with arrow-root. The tools used in 
making wax-flowers, such as steel- 
pins, molding-pins, scissors, etc., should 
be constantly moistened with warm 
water or by touching them with your 
tongue. The latter I consider prefer- 
able. 

Most flowers should be painted in 
dry colors, which must be rubbed on 
the wax with the fingers ; but in 
making variegated flowers and leaves, 

f j|F vip — JHJijF 'J«j||l 



160 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

use mixed colors, generally chrome 
colors, except when making Japan 
lilies, spotted and striped pinks, tulips, 
etc., of which the foundation should 
also be a chrome color put on with a 
sable brush ; but whatever shading 
the flower requires, it is advisable to 
paint with artists' paint, which can 
be had in small tubes. Put a small 
quantity of this on a small pallet, 
and mix it with a little turpentine to 
make the paint more fluent. 

When imitating bunches of natural 
flowers and their leaves, cut out the 
patterns of the leaves in the same man- 
ner as described for the flowers. For 
these, put two sheets of single green 
wax together, of a shade to suit the 
natural leaf, one thickness not being 

c 



jtk jtff 




sufficient for the purpose. Cut them 
out of this double sheet according to 
your pattern and press them on the 
wrong side of a suitable metal mold. 
These can be had to imitate a great 
variety of natural leaves. In arrang- 
ing large pieces of wax-work, quite a 
number of these metal (usually brass) 
molds will be needed. Before using- 
the mold, dip it into water. Lay on a 
single sheet of green wax, over which 
— about two thirds up from the stem — 
place the wrapped wire, and over this 
another sheet of wax. With a large 
pin now run along the edges of the 
scallops, breaking off the wax, and 
then pressing the leaf hard enough to 
impress all the veins of the mold 

upon it. 

11 



iHflkjil^ 




Having given a general outline 
on the making of wax-flowers, and 
the rules and methods I consider 
necessary to success with the work in 
hand, I will proceed to give directions 
how to make a number of flowers, 
beginning with those that offer the 
least difficulty. 

Lily of the Valley. — This lovely little 
flower can be made exactly like the nat- 
ural one, and it is almost indispensa- 
ble in arranging baskets and bouquets. 
Cut strips of pure white double wax 
three eighths of an inch wide, five 
eighths and some seven eighths of an 
inch long, which put around the end 
of the modeling-stick, and carefully 
smooth the part that laps over so that 
the joining does not show. Then 



W 



^jjunngic ■ -^F^lil 



WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 163 

move it up and close it at the top, 
gliding over it with a modeling-stick 
until it is perfectly smooth. When 
it has been taken off dip your mod- 
eling-stick in a mixture of arrow-root 
and flake-white, equal parts, with 
which the inside is whitened, and its 
glossy, waxy appearance disappears. 
Then put the little cup on again and 
rub the outside well with the arrow- 
root. After this, make a very small 
hole in the center, through which put 
the wire with the seeds. Cut the top 
in six equal parts, scallop them 
evenly, and curve each one over a 
very little. The seed is made by 
taking the whole length of a sheet of 
the very lightest yellow-green wax 
five eighths of an inch wide, between 



1 E 

fl 164 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 



two strips of white, of which make a 
roll. The wire, which must be cover- 
ed with medium green wax, turn at 
the top about one eighth of an inch. 
Clip six little pieces off the roll about 
the size of the head of a chenille 
needle and put one in the center so 
that the green stem does not show, 
and then five around this. Put five, 
seven, or nine blossoms on one spray, 
the first three to be a little smaller 
than the others. 

White Clematis. — This very pretty 
and sweet-scented climber looks 
charming in wax, and is easy to 
model. Commence by taking the 
natural flower apart carefully. Take 
one of its four petals and cut a pat- 
tern from it out of thick white paper. 



||kjiill!k A ;wlfg 



WONDEBS OF THE FLORA. 165 



w 



Place the pattern upon double white 
wax and cut out four petals for each 
flower, some a little smaller than 
others. Then bloom or rub both sides 
with a mixture of arrow-root and 
flake-white, leaving, however, the base 
clear of this mixture, — in fact on the 
petals of all other flowers, as they 
would otherwise not adhere in mak- 
ing up. Mold each petal by press- 
ing down the center and on either 
side, so as to form three lines. Great 
care is necessary, to keep them 
from breaking. Apply the already 
described white mixture once more. 

To make up the flower, take a piece 
of the wire and mold around it a nar- 
row strip of green wax ; then turn 
a one end a little ways down and press u 

- c 



166 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

on it at its point six narrow strips of 
white wax an inch in length. After 
painting each with green powder, 
mixed in weak gum-water, slightly 
turn each joint back at the top to 
form the pistil. The stamens are of 
two sizes — about one fourth inch 
and three eighths inch, respectively. 
They can be made of white cotton. 
Make sixteen of each size, twelve to 
remain white, except tinting the tips 
with straw color, and four of each size 
to be painted with the prepared green 
color. When the stamens are cut 
and arranged, press them on in rows 
oi eight around the pistil, — first the 
small, then the large size, — and with 
the point of a pin regulate them ac- 
cording to nature. At their base 

*= =* 



w 
WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 167 

press on the four petals first de- 
scribed and curve them back a little 
toward the stem. 

Forget-me-not. — Take pale blue dry 
color and mix it with flake-white or 
arrow-root until it is as light as the 
natural flower. Then take a sheet of 
double white wax and rub it with the 
blue powder on both sides. To cut k 
out, use a small tin-cutter made for 
this purpose, and which can be ob- 
tained at the wax-material stores. 

Mold each of the little scallops in 
your hand with a very small glass 
head-pin, and put the wire with the 
seed through the center. This seed 
is made of four white threads, tipped 
with a bit of white wax about the size 
of the head of a small pin. Dip it in 

ft™lF ' 3ll JliF*'J||l 



168 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

yellow color, and put it on the stem 
about one sixteenth of an inch above 
the end of the wire. Arrange six or 
eight blossoms in a sprig. 

Orange-Blossoms. — These are made 
of very thick white wax. Some have 
five and others six petals, the pattern 
of which can either be cut from the 
natural flowers or a tin cutter used for 
the purpose. Mix arrow-root and 
flake-white, equal parts, and rub them 
well with this on both sides. Mold 
them in your hand, first with a 
medium-sized modeling-pin, then with 
a small round glass head-pin in two 
or three ridges on each side, which 
gives them a dewy, transparent look. 
Curve some of the petals over 
a great deal, others only a little, 

M 



lioiHr.. aJflk. iSt 

WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 1G9 

and close some of them altogether, 
for buds. Cover the wire with a 
light-green wax ; turn the top over 
slightly, and make a little bulb about 
the size of a pin- head. Make a good- 
sized bulb of green wax a quarter of 
an inch below ; then cut strips of thick 
white wax a little over one half inch 
wide, which, after being well arrow- 
rooted, should be cut like fringe. 
Then moisten the edge and dip it 
about one sixteenth of an inch deep 
into yellow color. When dry, press it 
around the little bulb at the bottom, 
so that the fringy part will stand 
straight up; then press the five petals 
into their proper place. 

Roses. — For a good-sized rose cut 
ten sizes of petals, five of each size, — 



n 

170 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

except the smaller, of which only three 
are required. The tin cutter, made 
for the purpose, answers very well ; 
but if you prefer, cut from nature out 
of fine card-board. Take a good 
stiff wire ; cover it with green wax ; 
turn it over a half an inch at the top ; 
then of white waste wax make a bulb 
about the size of a small rose-bud. 
Arrow-root all the petals, and then 
rub rose-madder, No. i or 2, on them. 
In the first four courses rub it in as 
thick as possible, and in the others 
gradually diminish. The last two 
courses should be very light. For 
this flower you need four or five sizes 
of molding-pins. Mold them in the 
hollow of your hand, beginning with 
the smallest. Then curve each petal 



WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 171 

over at the top, — some only a little 

and others more, — taking care that it 

does not look too regular. The first 

and second course, which cover the 

bulb, hardly need to be curved at all. 

The second, third, and fourth courses 

should each be a little higher than the 

preceding ; the fifth about even ; the 

sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth 

each a little lower. If a moss-rose is 

intended to be made, take five very 

perfect pieces of fine sprig-moss, 

which is to show only a little from the 

top of the flower ; fasten this on with 

green wax, and afterward also cover 

the bottom of the moss with green 

wax. 

In roses, camellias, tuberoses, or- 

„ ange-blossoms, etc., we often per- 
il c_ 



S^Cmfcw. — — — - — jOkl JflPg 

172 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

ceive an almost invisible veining, 
which can be imitated very nicely by 
veining each petal several times with 
a medium-sized knitting-needle on the 
one side, and molding it with a very 
small molding-pin along-side the 
crease on the other side. 

Pink Ca7 r nation. — Although this 
beautiful flower is not difficult to make, 
yet it is a very important one in the 
formation of wax-flower decorations. 
There is perhaps a greater variety 
of colors in this than in any of our 
garden pets — first, the pure white, 
the light-pink, the crimson, the scarlet; 
then the tinted, the spotted, and the 
striped varieties. Each flower con- 
tains from four to six sizes, and alto- 
gether about thirty-five petals. 

W0 Z ' J fiF * W J tl 



tjlkjdfik Au^ 

WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 173 

Trace on card-board one pattern 
each of the different sizes of petals, 
which then cut out. They are made 
of pure white double wax. Scallop 
the edges in a rather irregular and 
careless manner, and for the white 
use equal parts of arrow-root and 
flake-white to rub the petals with 
after they have been scalloped. For 
pink, use rose-madder No. i ; or if a 
darker pink is wanted, rose-madder 
No. 2. For striped and spotted, 
refer to directions given for simi- 
lar flowers on page 160. When 
the petals are all colored, make the 
center by taking two stiff white 
threads one and a half inches long ; 
cover these very smoothly with white 

wax and curl them over at the upper 

% m 

IfcOljF ; ^"IjF^ 



end to imitate the natural flower. 
Join these at the bottom with a piece 
of covered wire, and mold around it a 
little light-green wax to the shape of 
a small grain of wheat. Mold the 
petals with a rather large modeling- 
stick, and then with a small molding- 
pin around the edges, but in an irreg- 
ular manner ; that is, do not mold all 
the petals alike, as the flower is natu- 
rally so formed. Now press on the 
petals placing the smallest first. Form 
the calyx after nature, out of light- 
bluish green wax, doubled, and when 
molded press it carefully around the 
lower part of the petals. Then press 
on the four very small leaves of the 
same color as the calyx, the shape of 
which you can copy from the natural 



ii'IkjlUfc 




flower. Make the stem about a quar- 
ter of an inch from the calyx. 

With this short treatise on wax- 
flowers as a starting-point, I trust the 
really anxious learner will soon be- 
come interested enough to study 
closely a large number of other flow- 
ers, and learn to copy them. The best 
help in this art is always offered by 
the natural flower itself, and if at all 
to be had it should never fail to lay 
before you as a model. A good guide- 
book is, however, generally very, de- 
sirable ; and for this purpose I most 
heartily recommend "Mintorris Les- 
sons in Flower a?id Fruit Modeling? 
in Wax" of which a notice will be 
found in the latter part of this book. 

SFV ~ ^F 



Wk,jJfk... 








FRUIT-MODELING IN WAX. 

MOLD made of plaster of 
f Paris is the first thing requisite 
for this work. To make this, pre- 
pare a stiff paper mold about an 

inch larger all around than the fruit 
you wish to imitate. Then mix plas- 
ter of Paris with water sufficient for 
the purpose. It must be rather thick, 
to prevent the fruit from sinking 
deeper than is intended. With a soft 
camel-hair brush cover the fruit with 

olive-oil, and then pour the plaster into 

176 



If fnulfe. afik atfg 

WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 177 

the paper mold. Place the fruit into 
this, so that there is an equal margin of 
plaster all around, and allow it to cover 
just about one half of the fruit. The 
edge of the mold should be perfectly 
smooth ; if not so, it must be scraped 
with a knife when hardened a little. 

Before the plaster has become 
hard, bore three holes into it with 
a modeling-tool. Leave it stand 
about an hour to become firmly 
set, and then oil over the fruit and 
the upper edge of the mold. Mix 
some more of the plaster, and pour 
enough over the fruit to cover it 
entirely, and extend out to the paper 
form. It will now have to remain 
about twenty-four hours to become 

perfectly hard, when the upper half 

13 pr 

iiF 'J'liF yffc *d|| 



Hiorftic. jiiftr. jui^ 

178 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

can be taken off, the fruit taken 
out, and the paper mold removed. 
Three notches will have been formed 
on the edge of the upper half by the 
filling up of the holes before mention- 
ed, which serve to keep the two parts 
together when they are to be used. 
Great care is necessary in placing the 
fruit so that not more than the half of 
it is imbedded in either side of the 
mold, as otherwise it could not be 
removed without damage to the form. 
The above method can be applied 
to all varieties of fruit. After hav- 
ing been laid aside for two days, 
the mold will be sufficiently hard 
to cast, for instance, an apple. The 
process is as follows : Melt a suffi- 
cient quantity of good, white wax, 
«3 



WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 179 

which should be quite fluent, but not 
too hot. Then immerse the mold into 
moderately warm water for a few min- 
utes to prevent the wax from adhering 
to it. Now wipe the mold clean, and 
take one half of it in your left hand 
and pour in the liquid wax until the 
same is nearly filled ; then quickly 
place over the other half, pressing it on 
tightly, and keeping both in place by 
means of the three notches fitting into 
the three cavities before mentioned. 
Hold the two parts firmly together, and 
gently shake them in different direc- 
tions until the wax inside ceases to 
move. When this takes place, lay it 
in warm water for a few minutes, after 
which the wax-fruit can be taken out. 
Careful handling is necessary, as the 



180 WONDERS OF THE FLORA, 

wax is yet soft and easily injured. 
Pare off the superfluous wax, and 
carefully rub the fruit with flannel 
dipped in turpentine, removing all 
rough places, especially where the 
two parts of the mold join. Paint 
with good dry chrome colors. For 
instance, apples or pears may be 
painted with yellow chrome, and 
carmine can then be used to imitate 
the red cheeks on them. The same 
varnish used in preserving flowers 
as described in Chapter IV. — ex- 
cept that double the quantity of 
ingredients must be taken to the 
same amount of alcohol — can be 
used for giving fruit the desired gloss. 
The crown of an apple or pear can be 
closely imitated by soaking a clove in 



§|lkjl!k oiiiiirjiill^ 

WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 181 f 



water, cutting off the head, and gluing 
it on the proper place. For the stem 
of the fruit, take a small twig and put 
it in the proper place in the mold. 
The wax will firmly adhere to it. 

Fruits that are not to be varnished, 
as, for instance, plums, — after they 
have been painted green, violet, etc., 
which is done in the manner above 
described, — must be delicately and 
very carefully dusted with pulverized 
chalk or arrow-root, which imparts 
the tender bloom peculiar to the fruits. 

For imitating grapes it is best to 
buy the glass berries made for that 
purpose, which must be glued to wire 
stems, previously wrapped with silk 
or cotton thread. These berries may 
then be singly dipped into melted 






^HbcjA. jd!kjdl|| 

5 c 

^ 182 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

__ __ . ■ — — . — ^ 

green wax. Great care must be 
taken on withdrawing the berries from 
the wax, so as to hold them in a po- 
sition to allow the superfluous wax 
to run down over the stem, otherwise 
thick drops will settle on the berries 
and totally destroy their beauty. 

For smaller berries that have deli- 
cate lines drawn across them, as cur- 
rants, paint may be used to represent 
these lines, or silk thread may be 
tied across for the same purpose. 
Grape berries, currants, and other 
varieties of small fruit can also be 
had with stems, colored and ready 
for use. After the berries are pre- 
pared in this manner they may be 
formed into bunches, colored and 
dusted as above directed. 



** ** 

2 * 



„, . PAPER FLOWERS. 

yXT the time I began writing this 
Svg| V book it was my intention to 
add a long and what might be termed 
a " scientific" treatise on this interest- 
ing part of the ''inanimate Flora." 
Other seemingly more important sub- 
jects have however extended this 
volume beyond its intended limits, 
and I find myself compelled to choose 
but two flowers for this chapter ; and 
these I will not describe in any learn- 
ed, but in a simple and easily under- 
stood manner, so that even children 
can comprehend and utilize the de- 
scription without difficulty. ^ 
183 . L 



Sjk.alk. 



.aftuif 



184 



WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 



How to make a beautiful rose in five 
minutes. — Take any colored paper, — 
common red tissue-paper if you have 
none better. Cut six pieces of two and 
a half inches square, as in figure i. 













& 




\ 


Ea.1. 




/ i- 





Fold it until it has the shape of figure 2. 
Then take a pair of scissors and cut off 



WFW 



*Wm 



WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 185 

the top as marked by dotted line 3, 
and the bottom by line 4. Then open 



the paper as in this figure, and cut 
across the dotted lines a. Unfold the 
whole paper and cut in the same 
manner the two remaining uncut 
creases. Then take a piece of green 
or brown covered wire (about No. 26) 
six inches long; form on one end a 
bulb of cotton the size of a small rose- 
bud ; cover this with the same color, 
or yellow paper to imitate the center 

c 
jUF"5F " ^it-anil 



186 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 



of a rose. This can also be made of 
yellow zephyr worsted, or even a yel- 
low immortelle. 

Stick this through the hole in the 
center of the star-like patterns using 
a little paste to fasten the first to it. 
Then with the thumb of your left hand 
over the petals, and holding the wire 
stem between the fore and middle fin- 
ger fold in a careless-like way the first 
of the eight petals over the center 
as far as it is cut open. Take the 
second paper and fold over the first, 
in like manner. Continue this folding 
until all the petals are thus laid over, 
and then form a small bundle about 
one inch across. 

If a green muslin or paper calyx is 
not to be had, take a few sprigs of fine 



WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 187 



moss which paste to the bottom of 
the rose, and then fasten them with 
thin-covered green wire or thread. 

To make a nice spray, attach with 
tissue-paper a few green muslin or 
paper leaves at proper places. A 
bud may also be easily made by at- 
taching some cotton to a wire stem, 
somewhat in the form of the natural 
bud, and covering it tightly with 
green tissue-paper, which can, if de- 
sired, be tinted a little at the top with 
the color of the rose, representing a 
bud about to open. To this attach 
the calyx, the same as in the rose. 

We now return to the rose that we 
started out to make, and which we 
left in an unsightly looking lump. 
Take it by the stem, and with the 



|glk. iittflk a&utg 

n 

188 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

point of a pair of scissors open or 
turn back the top row of petals, then 
the second, and so on down to the 
center, when lo ! you will be surprised 
with the sight of a remarkably natu- 
ral-looking rose, — provided the above 
directions have been strictly followed. 
With a little practice a dozen roses, 
of different colors, can easily be made 
in an hour. They can of course be 
made in different sizes also, if desired. 
Pressing or molding each petal in the 
palm of your hand with a large mold- 
ing-pin, or even with the tip of your 
finger, will add much to the beauty 
of the rose, although this is more 
tedious. If the inner row of petals — 
that is, the first paper put on the 
wire, — be cut half an inch smaller 

lit 
J c 

f)j||«flJ|»C 1 W rs & 



iftuAk 



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than the balance it will imitate the 

natural rose more closely. 

Carnation Pink. — To make this 

flower in paper quickly, proceed in 

the same manner as for the rose ; that 

is, use the same sized-papers, and fold 
and cut them in the same manner as 

for that flower. When cut, as shown 

in the half size rose-figure, it will 

be necessary to clip out little notches, 





as shown in figure 5, which can be 
done while the petals are yet all in 
one fold, like this in the engraving. 



^Ifr^iur- 



■HF J *I 



HiiuiJfc. 



-jAu^| 



190 



WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 



> 



Besides this, crease each petal a little 
as far as it is cut open, as in figure 6, 
so that it may have the appearance 
of the somewhat irregular petals of 
the natural flowers. 

For the pistil or stamens use two 
threads of a feather ; or if these can not 
be had, cut two very narrow strips of 
thick white paper about two inches 
long, draw them over the edge of a 
pair of scissors, between this and the 
thumb of the right hand, to make them 
curl like the natural. Fasten these 
threads to a piece of wire by means 
of some cotton, which wrap around 
the two until it forms a small ball, the 
size of a little bean. To this attach 
the first piece of paper, prepared as 
stated above, by the use of a little 



Ijf^F" 



-jqjfic 



W 
WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 191 W 



paste, and press it together by draw- 
ing it through your partly-closed 
hand. Then attach the other papers 
in the same manner, when only the 
calyx remains to be added. For this 
take stiff blue-green paper, which can 
be purchased where paper window- 
curtains are sold. The form of it in 
the natural flower will be your best 
guide in shaping this calyx. It must 
be notched or cut fringe-like at the 
top. When slipped under the pink, 
the flower is done. For the peculiar 
grass-like leaves of the pink, take the 
same blue-green paper, 4 by \yi 
inches. Cut three inches of this into 
little strips one eighth of an inch 
wide, and with the one inch uncut, 
attach it to the wire stem by wrapping 



% 192 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 

it around this about three inches be- 
low the flower, and pasting on both 
ends. 

To heighten the effect of pinks, 
impart to them their natural fragrance 
by sprinkling a little clove-dust over 
them, which imitates the natural scent 
very closely. 

The above methods for making the 
rose and carnation pink in an unusual 
short time, I believe to be original. 

In the above description for making 
these flowers in paper I have not aim- 
ed — as stated in the beginning — 
to be very artistic ; although I be- 
lieve that for this very reason many 
more will undertake the entertaining 
little task of making bouquets of 
them. 



To all who wish to learn the art of 
paper-flower making in a really artistic 
manner, I would recommend the book 
entitled, "Ladies' Fancy Work; or, 
Hints and Helps to Home Taste and 
Recreations" of which a notice will 
be found in the latter part of this 
book. It contains, besides numerous 
excellent lessons in various branches 
of fancy work, the best and most 
complete treatise on paper-flowers I 
have yet seen. 

Although paper flowers can be 
made of the cheapest kind of paper, 
if the colors are at all like those in 
nature, it is more advisable to get 
such as are purposely made for flow- 
ers. The most exquisite colors and 
qualities of paper are now imported 

13 



194 WONDERS OF THE FLORA. 



for many of the prominent varieties ; 
and not only the plain-colored for 
roses, hollyhocks, etc., but also the 
speckled and striped, for pinks, pe- 
tunias, etc., as well as the actual forms 
of carnations, asters, poppies, and 
other varieties impressed on the 
sheets, and ready to be cut out, can 
now be had at some of the stores 
where flower-materials are kept. 







jjMfcudfe. 



.alkaJI^ 



W wiMtiiiis'i luito 






In appearing before the public as the 
publisher of this volume, perhaps an 
§5|| explanation is due to the many friends 
Ss^ all over the country with whom I 
I have had business relations during 
the past ten years, and who I shall be glad to 
know are among the readers of this hook- 
as well as all the other kind readers, whose 
number I trust will be very large. 

With book publishing as a business, I have 
no experience, further than the publication of 
my annual trade-circular, containing from 
thirty to fifty pages. Nor did I seek or solicit 
the honor or responsibility of publishing the 
work of Mr. Kresken; and when last spring 
(1879) he presented to me his partially-written 

195 S 



196 PUBLISHER'S REMARKS. 



statements, with the request that I should re- 
vise and prepare them for publication, it was 
with no little hesitancy that I assumed the re- 
sponsibility of coming before the public as the 
publisher of a book whose main feature was to 
be the "Preservation of Flowers in their 
Natural State and Colors," a matter with 
which I was but little acquainted. Believing, 
however, that the subject would be a singularly 
interesting one, and seeing proof positive in 
the various specimens Mr. Kresken presented 
to me, that flowers could be preserved, I 
agreed to undertake the task. Yet, while 
little doubting the correctness of his state- 
ments I determined to prove, at least par- 
tially, by practical experience, their real value. 
Accordingly, while the preceding part of this 
book was in the hands of the printer, I em- 
ployed what little time I could spare in carry- 
ing out the object stated ; and the reader will 
here find the results attained. 

Some of the best flowers of spring were 



!®*fc jdk. — ^ ^M 




gone when I began my experiments, and the 
season, — middle of May to the middle of 
July, — owing to dry weather, was unfavorable 
to them. Of all flowers I kno»v of, there are 
none so well adapted to the drying process as 
the beautiful pansy. I have hundreds of these; 
and while their beauty is of course not equal to 
the fresh ones, it is certainly the next thing to 
it. I have been very successful with many 
other flowers. Red peonies, when cured by 
sulphur, especially when not too open, pre- 
serve splendidly, and the pink ones turn to a 
fine crimson. Very compact and well-filled 
red roses, and buds just opening, besides a 
number of others, can be successfully cured 
by the sulphur process, although, as stated 
on page 22, many — not all — become somewhat 
smaller, — a natural consequence of the extrac- 
tion of all watery substances and the closing 
up of their fluid conduits. 

My collection now consists of good speci- 
mens of pomegranate flowers, peonies, roses, 
4 



Wk..ytk. .alflk Jl^ 

198 PUBLISHER'S REMARKS. 

pelargoniums, calliopsis, verbenns (especially 
the light -colored), oleanders, perennial phlox, 
lantanas, browallias, lobelias, abutilons, pas- 
sion-flowers, Chinese pinks, fever-fews, canter- 
bury bells, purple day-lilies, hollyhocks, and a 
number of others. The greatest part of these 
have been dried in sand, the balance by sul- 
phur, and a few by the application of acid, as 
described in Chapter III. Most sulphur-cured 
flowers are also greatly improved by dipping 
them in the acid for a few seconds, as stated 
page 1 8. 

1 have found pomegranate flowers especially 
suitable for curing by acid. It is necessary, 
however, that great care should be taken to use 
only such acid as is known to be " che?nically 
pure" It may also be stated that "nitric" 
and "muriatic" acid have each about the 
same effect on flowers, if "chemically pure." 
A number of flowers known to be well 
adapted for drying, as the different kinds 
of asters, have not yet blossomed at this 



PUBLISHER'S REMARKS. 199 

writing (July) ; but it is my intention to have 
as large a collection as possible of these, 
and others yet to come, before the beginning 
of winter. 

Many of the common wild- flowers, espe- 
cially the cluster and umbrella-shaped varieties, 
can also be dried in their natural forms with 
good success, provided the most perfect 
flowers are selected and care is taken that 
they are perfectly fresh when subjected to 
any drying process — a precaution which is 
necessary to success with whatever is to be 
preserved in this way. Not only can a great 
variety of flowers be preserved by one or the 
other of the methods given in this book, but 
the most gratifying results can be attained in 
drying ferns, ornamental mosses, and foliage 
of many kinds, by the sand process. I 
have now a large number of these ; and I con- 
sider this mode of far greater value than the 
well-known one of preserving them by press- 
ing in books or otherwise, as it preserves to 

■ty fi* 1 

2 ^ 



|flk.A.. julftorftf 

200 PUBLISHER'S REMARKS. 

them their natural, graceful, waving forms, 
which is not possible by the old method. 

Of the last method to preserve flowers de- 
scribed by Mr. Kresken, — that by wax or 
paraffine, — I can only say that I believe it to 
be entirely trustworthy, and especially valua- 
ble for preserving such flowers in memorial 
floral souvenirs as can not be preserved by 
any of the other three methods. I must, how- 
ever, defer a personal experiment to a later 
time. 

This, then, is a summary of my short, ex- 
perience in this to me, until lately, entirely 
unknown art. That successes have not been 
attained without a moderate proportion of 
failures I freely admit. But these latter 
I ascribe more to the many disadvantages 
under which I labored, and the insufficient 
knowledge I had on the subject as a novice in 
the art, than to any existing impossibility 
of carrying out Mr. Kresken's statements. 

After the above -described experiments and 

a c 



the consequent results, I will say that it is 
my firm conviction that by far the largest 
number of known flowers can, by a careful 
study of their enduring qualities, be preserved 
more or less successfully for an indefinite 
period of time beyond that of their natural 
existence, and in much of their original beauty. 
Moreover, I believe that this publication will 
cause an interest to be taken and further in- 
vestigation to be made into a subject on which 
so little is as yet publicly known, and which 
concerns, more or less, every lover of these 
beautiful gifts of God. 

Mr. Kresken, in his preface, tells us of the 
first premium obtained by him at Cologne, in 
1865. The reader will pardon me for stating 
a circumstance connected with this exposition 
as related to me by him. At the grand open- 
ing of the exposition referred to, His Royal 
Highness Frederick William, Crown- Prince 
of Prussia, with his whole retinue, on passing 
J the display of preserved flowers made by Mr. 



202 PUBLISHER'S REMARKS. 

Kresken, stopped and closely examined them, 
at the same time asking many questions of him 
in regard to these flowers. On leaving, he 
used these words : „$n biefen pr&ferturten 33lus 
men Ijaben toir. ben Slnfang ^u einem fiinftigeu 
grojjen gnbuftrte^etge." (In these preserved 
flowers we have the beginning of a future 
large branch of industry.) That these words 
have already become partially true is shown by 
the great and increasing interest taken in the 
preservation of flowers in Europe, where for 
some years large amounts of capital have 
been invested, and whole plantations devoted 
to the culture of flowers for this purpose. 
But the business is as yet in the hands 
of a few, whose interest of course is to let as 
little as possible be known of the methods 
used. How much interest will yet be taken in 
the art of preserving flowers in this country 
remains to be seen. 

Next to flowers, ferns and leaves, orna- 
mental grasses, and mosses, have of late had 

f 



HAkjrflk irffcjftf 

PUBLISHER'S REMARKS. 203 

much attention bestowed on them by many- 
lovers of the gifts of nature for home orna- 
ments and other decorative purposes. Their 
adaptation to these objects, and the great ease 
with which most of them can be procured, 
seems to make desirable a treatise on their 
gathering, coloring, and general treatment, to 
make them valuable for the purposes named. 

I think it will be generally admitted that 
Mr. Kresken has treated this part of his 
" Flora " in a thorough manner; and following 
his directions, I have been enabled to gather, 
color, bronze, and crystallize quite a collection 
of beautiful grasses. And I am anxious to pur- 
sue these interesting studies much further when 
time and circumstances shall be more propi- 
tious to me than at present. I have no doubt 
the remaining chapters of this book will be 
found more or less interesting by most of its 
readers, according to the use that each one will 
make of them. 

In the selection of types, binding, and gen- 






. jrffccjdIS 






204 



PUBLISHER'S REMARKS. 



eral appearance of this publication, it has been 
my endeavor to prcduce a volume that would, 
besides its general utility, be an ornament 
to any parlor or library-case. How far I 
have succeeded in this, I leave the reader to 
determine. 

PHILIP A. KEMPER. 

Dayton, Ohio, July, 1879 







-*IF*& 



Bulk JtkjJgl 



Colors, Bronzes, Frostings, &c, 

To carry out the Objects of this Book. 

ALSO, 

Materials of Every Description 

FOR 

Wax and Paper Flowers, &c, 

For sale by the undersigned. 



As it will often be very difficult, especially in the 
smaller country places, to get the materials necessary 
to carry out many of the objects of this book, and to 
get them fresh and of good quality, I have deter- 
mined to add a number of these articles that I have 
not kept heretofore, to my regular business, and will 
send them, carefully packed, by mail, on receipt of 
price. They are put up in small and convenient quan- 
tities. Complete price-lists will be furnished when- 
ever requested by postal-card or letter. 

I consider it necessary to caution against buying 
"very cheap colors." The experimenter will have 
little success with them, as their strength is likely to 
be in proportion to their price. My endeavor will be 
to keep such as I have proved to be good, and these 
I will offer at the lowest possible price. 
Send orders to 

PHILIP A. KEMPER, 

DAYTON, OHIO, k 

205 £ 



1 ANILINE_COLORS. * 

These useful and highly commendable dyes I 
have in all the principal, and a number of extra 
fine shades. 

In ordering, it will not be necessary to give the 
special names stated in Chapter VIII. of this book, 
as for instance, "aniline blue de lion." It will be 
sufficient to state the name of the color wanted, as 
blue, crimson, scarlet, yellow, green, etc., etc. 

Send for price-list. 



BRONZEJPOWDERS. 

In these I keep the very fine quality, known as 
No. 4000, and a full line of colors, as follows : Pale 
gold, rich gold, white or silver, lemon, orange, pink, 
lilac, violet, brown, crimson, carmine, blue, light 
green, dark green, copper, fire-brown. 

Extra fine rich gold bronze, No. 10,000. 

Gilt bronze, No. 1,000. 

Gilt bronze, No. 500. 

These bronze-powders are put up in one-ounce 
papers — the smallest quantity sold. 
Send for price-list to 

DAYTON, OHIO. 



SUfcAt. 



In Small Crystals (not Flakes). 

Very fine and brilliant colors, and specially adapted 
for the purposes recommended in this book. 

The colors are rose, grenat, ruby, blue, black, 
scarlet, yellow, light and dark green. 

Further particulars in price-list. 



w&QQmm, 

Of the best quality, and in all colors. 



FLOWER VARNISH 



This article — which is frequently mentioned in this 

volume — has been carefully prepared of the best 

materials, and is put up in strong bottles. It is a 

water-like liquid, and dries in a few minutes after 

being applied to the flowers. 

Small bottles 25 cents. 

Large " 50 " 

P. S. — Other articles mentioned in this book, as 
Venetian soap, alkanet root, carbonate bismuth, etc., 
furnished when requested, but acids of any kind can 
not be sent by mail. Address, 

FMIMP A, MEMPEE,, 

Da^rton, ©Itx©. 



Jlllpg 






WAX-WORK. 

I keep constantly on hand a full line of colors of the 
celebrated Scheiffele manufacture 

SHEET WAX, 

The best article in the market, and of the usual 
variety in sizes. 



Cake Wax. 

A full assortment of Dry Colors in vials. 
A large variety of Brass Leaf-Molds. 
Tin Cutters for most of the prominent flowers. 
Moldings, and other tools of every description. 
Wires, plain and covered. 
Brushes used for this work. 

Moss, and everything required for wax flowers 
and fruit modeling. 

Send for price-list to 

PHILIP A. KEMPER, 

DAY TON, OHIO. 

% w 



IjJkjiiBllk. 



ofe; 



Paper Flowers, Etc. 

In these I keep a very large stock, — nearly all of 
my own direct importation from Europe, — consist- 
ing of the 



inest M 



rench f werman 



lower 

LORS. 



apers 



In over fifty different colors and shades. 



Speckled Papers for carnations and other flowers. 
Papers printed in the natural colors and forms of 
various flowers. 

Rice papers in different colors. 



from the cheapest to the real gold. 



GOLD AND SILVER BORDERS, 
From y& of an inch to 4 inches wide. Pressed or 
Scrap Pictures in almost endless variety, — in short, 
everything belonging to a first-class Material Fur- 
nishing Store. 

Send for price-list to 

PHILIP A. KEMPER, Dayton, 0. 



3 



-ji^ioiiiiT 






The following highly commendable 
books will be sent by mail, postpaid, on 
receipt of the price marked on each. 

These publications have been selected 
for their acknowledged excellence and 
usefulness, and will be furnished at 
precisely publishers ' prices. 

Address orders to 

Philip A, Kemper, 

13 aybqn., Ohio, 
MINTORN'S LESSONS IN 

Wax Flowers and Fruit Modeling. 



An Elegantly Bound Volume of \2\ 
Pages, with Many Illustrations. 



This is one of the best books ever published on 
wax-work. 

Price, $1.25. Sent, postpaid, by mail. 

% W 

%J Li 



ilkjilk . 1 jflfcj«*g 

J The American Plant Book. 

By Harlan H. Ballard and S. Proctor Thayer. 

Herbarium and Analysis Combined, 



For the Preservation of Pressed Flowers, Ferns, Sea- 
Weed, Grasses, Ivy, Mosses, Forest Leaves, Etc. 



The difficulties which have surrounded the botan- 
ical student in his attempts to preserve his specimens 
and keep them accessible has been overcome by this 
series of books. Always ready, they do away with 
the necessity for preparing paste, sticky fingers, etc. 

The series consist of four sizes, each of which is 
provided with a wallet or pocket, and contains a sup- 
ply of gummed paper, which is always ready for use in 
any climate or season. It is carefully ruled to facili- 
tate the cutting of such strips as may be necessary. 

A representation of the poison ivy and sumach pre- 
cedes the title-page, which is followed by full direc- 
tions for gathering, pressing, and mounting specimens. 

SCHOOL EDITION. 

With Index and Analysis. Each. 

No. 5. Size, 8% x ii}£. 64 leaves, full cloth, stamped $1 50 

" 8. " 8%xn%. 64 " full Russia, rich finish. 3 50 

AMATEUR'S EDITION. 

With descriptive page. 

No. 10. Size, 8%xn^. 64 leaves, extra cloth and gold... $1 75 
" 14. " 8%xn%. 64 " full Russia, rich finish. 3 50 

STUDENT'S EDITION. 

With Index and Analysis. 

No. 15. Size, 10x12%. 80 leaves, extra cloth and gold... $3 25 

" 18. " 10x12%. 80 " full Russia, rich finish.. 5 00 

FOR FOREST LEAVES ONLY. 

With descriptive page. 

No. 1. Size, 6% x 2>%. 56 leaves, extra cloth and gold $1 00 

" 4. " 6% x Zy 2 . 56 " full Russia, rich finish... 2 00 

Address orders to 

PHILIP A. KEMPER, Dayton, 0. 

Note. — With the exception of Nos. 15 and 18, copies can be sent by mail, post- 
paid, on receipt of price. Nos. 15 and 18 being too unwieldy for mail, will be for- 
warded by express, prepaid, to any reasonable distance, on receipt of price. 



Ladies' Fancy Work; 



OR, 



Hints and Helps to tyome Taste and Recreatioq, 



WITH 357 ILLUSTRATIONS. 



A charming book devoted to paper flowers, feather- 
work, fire-screens, shrines, rustic pictures, a charming 
series of designs for easter crosses, straw ornaments, 
shell-flowers and shell-work, bead mosaic, and fish- 
scale embroidery, hair-work and card-board orna- 
ments, fancy rubber-work, cottage foot-rests, window 
garden decorations, illuminated Grecian and oriental 
painting, crochet-work, modeling in clay and plaster, 
fret-work, wood-carving, designs in embroidery, and 
an immense number of designs of other fancy work 
to delight all lovers of household art and recreation. 

Price, $1.50. 



Window Gardening. 



An elegant book, with 250 fine engravings and 
300 pages, containing a descriptive list of all plants 
suitable for window culture, directions for their treat- 
ment, and practical information about plants and 
flowers for the parlor, conservatory, wardian case, 
fernery, or window garden. Tells all about bulbs for 
house-culture, geraniums, hanging-baskets, insects, 
plant-decorations of apartments. 

The illustrations are unusually beautiful, and many 
of them perfect gems of exquisite beauty. 

Price, $1.50. 

The above books sent, postpaid, on receipt of price. 

PHILIP A. KEMPER, 

DAYTON, OHIO. 

y 



f&frufe. Jk.j0M. 



A Complete Guide to all kinds of Or- 
namental Work. 



WITH MANY ILLUSTRATIONS. 



It contains full instructions on decalcomanie, sor- 
ronto wood-carving, illuminating, pencil-drawing, 
water-color painting, crayon-drawing, painting on 
ground glass, Grecian painting, moss-work, antique 
painting, papier-mache, oriental painting, cone-work, 
sign-painting, feather flowers, theorem painting, 
potichomanie, leather-work, hair-work, gilding and 
bronzing, plaster-work, wax-work, shell-work, magic 
lantern, paper-flowers, imitation of pearl, sealing-wax 
painting, panorama painting, coloring photographs, 
enamel-painting, diaphanic, charcoal drawing, lin- 
noeography, flower-painting, ferneries, the aquarium, 
taxidermy, heraldry, etc., etc., with valuable recipes 
for preparing the materials required. 

BY MADAME DRBIBO, PROF. HENRY DAY, AND 0THER8. 

The instructions given in this book are complete, 
clear, and reliable, and the information gained in the 
regular course from teachers in these arts would cost 
hundreds of dollars. 

This book is elegantly printed on fine tinted paper, 
and splendidly illustrated, and will be sent, postpaid, 
on receipt of price, $2.00. Address, 

PHILIP A. KEMPER, 

rD.A.TTI'OaT, OIXIO. ^ 



Practical Florist 

AND 

Preserver of Natural Flowers I Leaves. 




stilling ^^^smttvA^vA^ 



.A. SPBCIALTT. 



All kinds of floral work made up of the best pre- 
served flowers, leaves, and grasses. 

All orders for fresh flowers and floral work of any 
kind solicited, and sent to any part of the United 
States. 

Artificial Flower Decorations, 

Of every description, made up of the finest ma- 
terials. 

All work guarantied to be first-class. 

FIRST PREMIUMS 

Received for the best preserved floral work at eighteen 
world expositions. 



N, W. CORNER EIGHTH AND VINE STS., 

CINCINNATI, OHIO. 




lJIJ P^H vs^s 



UllllUlltfJfc- 

4 



m> r\ s ~< 



mi 






-aflkaflf 



On ihe preceding page I present wood-cut fac-similes 
of a few of the muslin leaves which I keep in stock, 
except that the wrapped wire-stems which the leaves 
come provided with are not shown here. 

To make it easy for my customers to order leaves, 
wood-cuts similar to these are now being made for 
me, at an enormous expense, of all the leaves I keep 
in stock, comprising, when complete, about one 
hundred and fifty varieties. 

They will be published in neat pamphlet form, 
September i, 1879. 

The pamphlet will be sent, postpaid, on receipt of 
ten cents, which will be credited again on the first 
order for at least $3.00 worth of these leaves. 
Address, 



PHILIP A. KEMPER, 

DAYTON, OHIO. 



IIF^f 






"W r ^m 



